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Samsung has two big new operating system releases in view, as it builds its response to recent setbacks - Apple winning a temporary injunction which will kill the Galaxy Tab 10.1's chances in Australia; the unexpectedly high uptake likely for the iPhone 4S, which will rob Samsung of its hopes of taking the smartphone top spot in Q4. Now it is preparing for the delayed launch of the next Android release, Ice Cream Sandwich, in which Samsung is taking the role of chief courtier to Google (perhaps for the last time, given the impending acquisition of Motorola Mobility). And it is also working on a third version of its own bada OS, which is becoming increasingly important in the Samsung strategy to support multiple platforms against Apple (it has also stepped up its WP7 commitments).

Lee Ho Soo, head of Samsung's mobile solutions center, said in an interview that bada "must continue to evolve. We're doing a lot of things to provide more for users of bada-based phones." When it originally appeared in 2009, bada was expected to play a very subsidiary role in its creator's plans, mainly targeting featurephone upgrades and the highly customized environments of Asian carriers. But as Samsung has seen legal challenges mount against Android, and the possibility of conflicts of interest with a Motorola-owning Google, it has reverted to its traditional stance of supporting as many platforms as possible. It is also the lead developer, with Intel, of the new Tizen Linux project - combining LiMO and Intel's MeeGo.

The second release of bada, unveiled in February along with new members of the Wave handset family which supports it, added several features ahead of Android or iOS, such as NFC mobile payments. The same process is expected for bada 3.0, with Samsung pushing its capabilities to showcase and market-test new capabilities, and establishing it as an equal partner with Android. Among the technologies Lee said Samsung is developing is an advanced voice recognition capability - like Siri, the highlight of the iPhone 4S/iOS 5 launch.

Back with Android, Ice Cream Sandwich - which reunites the tablet and small-screen strands of the Google OS - will be available before year end despite the postponement of last week's debut of the OS, running on Nexus Prime. This Google branded smartphone will be made by Samsung and will function as a showcase for the new OS and developer tools - as well as a hint of new features to come in the Galaxy range. The launch was officially put off out of respect for the recent death of Steve Jobs. Now Google and Samsung have set a date of October 19 to co-host a media event in Hong Kong, where presumably they will show off the new platform.

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