Samsung Electronics is looking into acquiring start-up firms as the answer to solving its software problems but experts remain skeptical, reported Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

Samsung declined to comment on its acquisition plans, but the WSJ said there were more in the offing, citing a list of prospective candidates for M&A and investment released in February from Samsung’s Media Solution Center.

Samsung Electronics is mulling bids for software start-ups in Silicon Valley, especially those related to service providers in games, mobile search, social media and maps. Unity Technologies, Green Throttle Games Inc., Glympse and Atari Inc. are among the candidates.

WSJ expressed concerns over Samsung’s plan for software dominance in the absence of related developments within the company, despite its lead in the hardware market. It remains doubtful as to whether a successful acquisition deal will be made in reflection to past failures.

Aiming to reinforce its software capabilities, Samsung recently launched a software start-up firm to make investments in software developers of its devices with locations in Palo Alto, California, and Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. The IT giant has also scheduled its first developers’ conference later this month in San Francisco.

By Yoon Ha-youn, Intern reporter
(yhayoun@heraldcorp.com)