Unfazed by its ongoing patent battle with Apple, Samsung Electronics will start selling next month a line of smartphones that run the latest version of Google's Android mobile operating system.
Samsung's top-of-the-line Galaxy Nexus smartphone was unveiled yesterday at a global launch in Hong Kong with a promise that it will bolster the lead in global sales of Android-based handsets against arch-rival Apple's popular iPhone.
'Our close alliance with Google has played a major role in Samsung becoming the number one Android smartphone provider,' said Shin Jong-kyun, the president of Samsung's mobile communications business.
Shin said the Galaxy Nexus 'will be our strategic product for the year-end holiday season as [Apple's] iPhone 4S just came into the market'.
Samsung had delayed the new product launch, which was supposed to be held in California last week, out of respect for Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who died on October 5.
Apple and Samsung are embroiled in a global legal dispute over smartphone and tablet patents.