Samsung Electronics and Intel are the principal backers of the Linux-based open source Tizen platform, which some see as an alternative to Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android. Further, Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) France Telecom Orange, Huawei and Vodafone are among the companies that belong to a consortium that is pushing the Tizen platform. And Samsung has pledged to release a Tizen-based smartphone this year. Nonetheless, it may take some time and considerable effort for Tizen to become a mainstream platform. A key hurdle for Tizen will be reaching out to developers and convincing them that Tizen has the potential to compete with the likes of Android and Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS. What are developers saying about Tizen? Check out this special report.
