Samsung Bada: Based on TouchWiz, $2.7 million in prizes for developers, more information soon

Samsung has just announced more information about their custom operating system called “Bada“. It will be based on Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface that we see today deployed across their wide portfolio of feature phones, Windows Mobile devices, and the Symbian powered i8910 HD. Samsung is also announcing a $2.7 million prize fund that will shell out prizes for up to 300 developers who create applications that fit into one of nine different categories; the largest prize is $300,000. Twitter, Blockbuster, CAPCOM, EA Mobile, and Gameloft are at the event and pledging their support to the Bada platform.

There will be a live video stream of the event starting at 12:15 GMT which you can follow here. As more information is released, this blog post will be updated. Stay tuned!

[Photo above live tweeted by @recombu]

Some quotes from the press release:

• “To enhance creativity and user interactivity, Samsung bada provides flash control, web control, motion sensing, fine-tuned vibration control, and face detection. Also, it supports sensor-based, context-aware applications. By using various sensors such as accelerometers, tilt, weather, proximity, and activity sensors, application developers can easily implement context-aware interactive applications.”
• “Samsung bada differentiates its position by supporting various service-centric features such as social networking, device synchronization, content management, location-based services, and commerce services – all supported by back-end bada servers. These ground-breaking developer-friendly features support developers to implement various services without additional effort.”
• “Applications can use device functions to make phone calls, send messages, or access the contact list. Also, various service applications can share information such as personal profiles, social relations, schedules, or contents with a simple user confirmation in order to provide services with greater personal relevance and cooperative service extension.”

Stream started. Here are some of the things Bada will be capable of:

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Bada partners:

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Samsung has just stated that in 2009 they estimate that they’ve sold 40 million touch screen mobile phones.

All Bada devices will have 3G, WiFi, GPS, motion sensors and either a WQVGA or WVGA display, both multi touch enabled.

Stream ended and in my 3 years of covering mobile devices, I have to say that was one of the worst presentations I’ve ever had the displeasure of watching. In case you’re wondering, yes they showed off the UI, no I don’t have any images or videos to share with you. It was, quite literally, a 15 second clip of video the size of a postage stamp on my screen. Eric from Phone Scoop is at the event, here is hoping he can get some sort of demo on video to share with the world.

Update: Don’t get your hopes up for a demo. This tweet just came in from Eric: “They don’t have any demo Bada phones at the Bada launch event. None. Nada for Bada. #Bada”