Samsung to delay smartphone launch to honor Steve Jobs

As a show of respect to the late former Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Samsung Electronics will delay the release of its new smartphone Nexus Prime 4.0, raising speculation over whether the gesture can improve ties between both companies.

Samsung said, “We will temporarily postpone the ‘Samsung Mobile Unpacked 2011’ event slated for Monday in San Diego,” adding, “By considering various aspects of the current situation, we have judged that this is an inappropriate time to hold an event to launch a new product.”

Samsung did not specify this in an official document, but a Samsung source said, “The measure has been taken to pay respects to the death of Jobs,” adding, “We will hold the event as early as late October.”

The company has apparently judged that holding a big event right after the death of the giant IT guru is inappropriate, though he was a rival.

Samsung sent invitations to more than 400 reporters and foreign correspondents to the event, which was to take place in the wake of CTIA 2011, an IT expo set for Tuesday through Thursday. Though they were hurriedly informed them of the delay, the expo itself will proceed as scheduled.

On Samsung’s postponement of the launch ceremony for the Nexus 4G, watchers predict that Samsung and Apple, which are fighting a bitter legal dispute over alleged patent infringement, could reconcile in a major twist.

A Samsung source said, however, “The measure is being taken only to pay respect to the late IT pioneer, and has nothing to do with the patent dispute,” adding, “We will push ahead with filing our lawsuits as we have prepared.”

Samsung did file a lawsuit against Apple with a British court Friday to counter Apple`s legal complaint against Samsung filed in the U.K. in September over alleged patent violation.

Analysts also say the surge in popularity of the new iPhone 4S is another reason Samsung chose to put off the launch of its Nexus Prime. Foreign news media say a flurry of orders have been placed for the iPhone 4S, which was unveiled just before Jobs’ death. The new device is considered Jobs’ final legacy.

jaeyuna@donga.com