Samsung: We're not buying MeeGo

Samsung Electronics says it isn't buying MeeGo. In fact, Samsung says it couldn't even if it wanted to.

"Meego is an open-source project which cannot be a target of acquisition," Samsung representative James Chung told CNET today.

The response dashed hopes that MeeGo might be saved through an acquisition, which was spurred this week by a Mobiledia report that Samsung was interested in a deal.

Many had expected Samsung and other handset manufacturers to look toward acquiring their own mobile operating system, which would allow them to reduce their dependence on Google's Android platform. Google's neutral stance was shaken up when it recently decided to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, in a deal that would put it in direct competition with its handset manufacturing partners.

Samsung had already denied interest in buying the WebOS platform from Hewlett-Packard, and the MeeGo speculation was the next to pop up.

Unlike some of the other handset manufacturers, Samsung already has a home-grown operating system in Bada, which is available in smartphones in select markets. The company hasn't yet offered it in the U.S., where Android is dominant. But analysts believe it could put more of its resources behind Bada in an effort to wean itself off Android.

"Samsung has been investing significantly in its own software, solutions, and content to differentiate its product offering and to provide a richer experience for consumers," Chung said.

Without an interested partner, Intel stands alone with MeeGo. Nokia had committed to using MeeGo before switching to Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, producing only one MeeGo phone, which was little more than an experiment. Intel says it remains committed to the operating system.

Samsung, meanwhile, won't completely abandon the use of Meego and said it will continue to support multiple mobile platforms and work with industry members to "enrich mobile ecosystems."