Samsung introduced what it says is the first commercially available smartphone powered by the Tizen platform – Samsung Z – although the device is not scheduled to go on sale, in Russia, until the third quarter.

The new device, which Samsung is presenting as its latest premium smartphone, goes on display tomorrow (3 June) at the Tizen Developer Conference, San Francisco.

As expected, Russia is the debut market for the new device with more market launches planned. The South Korean manufacturer did not say where the Samsung Z would appear next or the timetable for market expansion.

It seems a safe bet, however, that some of Russia’s neighbouring countries are high up on the list of target markets. Samsung said in a statement that it plans to host Tizen local app challenges in Russia and CIS countries to “enrich the Tizen ecosystem” at the launch of the device.

Extolling the virtues of Tizen, Samsung said that the platform offers a “fast and powerful software performance” and that the new device comes replete with a 4.8-inch HD super ‘amoled’ display and a 2.3GHz quadcore processor.

“The Samsung Z integrates the power and adaptability of the Tizen platform, enabling users to browse the web faster and utilise applications more effectively,” said DJ Lee, Samsung’s president and head of global sales & marketing (mobile communications).

Other device features, said Samsung,  include “superb 2D and 3D graphic qualities” along with “smoother scrolling and an improved rendering performance for web browsing”.

A built-in fingerprint sensor gives additional privacy protection, while an “ultra-power saving mode” is designed to let the phone stay operational – at minimal battery levels – in case of emergencies.

The device is available in black and gold.

Up until this announcement, Samsung had limited its public support of Tizen to its latest Galaxy Gear smart watches.