Samsung is not leaving any stone unturned in adopting various steps to stand by their punchline commitment of "helping sustain its global leadership position."
Recently the South Korean tech giant has accelerated its relationship with Linux software to the next level. Samsung has become the platinum member of the nonprofit Linux Foundation, giving $500,000 entry fee to the foundation in support of the Linux system and the open-source projects related to it.
With this membership, Samsung has now got a seat on the foundation's board and will be allowed to participate in the decision making, as to how Linux could be developed and also in the upcoming versions of the Linux platform including the Tizen mobile operating system, according to Business Insider.
Samsung Electronics Vice President WonJoo Park reportedly said, "We are looking forward to increasing collaboration and support for our growing portfolio of Linux-based devices and to making contributions that advance Linux for all."
Also, Samsung has joined hands with the foundation at the highest level of support and is added to the list of top contributors to the Linux Foundation including Fujitsu, IBM, Intel, NEC, Oracle and Qualcomm.
Although, the effects of the investment are not immediately visible, it is, however, more like a long-term commitment in which Samsung gives back to a community it takes from to make its own products.
Apple's iOS - Rival Alert?
Taking a note of the Korean consumer electronic manufacturer's involvement with Android and other Linux-based open source software, Samsung's membership does not come as a major surprise, still it does suggest that the manufacturer will assume a more prominent role in determining the future of Linux.
As according to the Foundation, Samsung will work with other members to enhance engagement with the "kernel community," and to develop open source best practices.
In a statement to Business Insider, Linux Foundation executive director Jim Zemlin praised Samsung's "commitment to Linux and investment in its development," adding that the company's membership is "a strategic business decision that will result in advancing Samsung Electronics' success and accelerating Linux development work."
Also few reports suggests that Linux forms the basis for Google's Android operating system. But the Linux Foundation has also been building another mobile OS called Tizen. No one really gives Tizen much notice as consumers are currently satisfied with iOS and Android operating system. Even Windows Phones are having a difficult time to break the net.
But Samsung is a big sponsor of Tizen. Hence analysts predict that merger is definitely a step to try and collapse the OS market.
Supporting this notion a Linux Foundation spokesperson told Business Insider, "Having just recently [in Q1 2012] beat out Nokia to become the world's largest maker of mobile phones, this announcement also makes it clear how Samsung will now try to attack Apple's position with both the Linux-based Android and Tizen platforms.
In other words, Samsung wants to have more control, so it can turn Tizen into a true alternative to Android, and, more importantly, an alternative to iOS.
In an interview with the NY Times, Jim Zemlin said that Samsung's membership with Linux would help it compete against rivals like Apple. "Apple, perceived as the most closed and proprietary software company in the world, is incredibly good at open source. It is in everything they make," Zemlin explained.
"Samsung is doing the same thing with Linux in order to make better, faster, cheaper software. They are investing in it in a massive, massive way, as only companies like Samsung can do."
Going by the records, Samsung swept over Cupertino-based tech giant Apple to become the world's best smartphone maker and was pegged as the top overall mobile phone vendor in March. With its intense market share, Samsung could be looking to leverage its momentum and take Apple head-on with a more appealing alternative to iOS.
