Samsung looks at smartwatch payments partnership with PayPal and Tizen TVs as LG conflict intensifies

Samsung is reportedly looking at forging an NFC watch payments partnership with PayPal and has demonstrated smart TVs running its Tizen operating system, as former executives of LG Electronics are accused of stealing business plans from the company.

The Korea Times reports the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office is investigating accusations LG stole confidential Samsung air conditioning unit business plans submitted as part of a government-run project.

The accusations were made by a former LG executive identified by the paper as “Yoon”, who is serving prison time for “malpractices”. The latest news follows accusations from Samsung last week that LG officials vandalised its washing machines during a recent trade show in Germany.

Meanwhile, Business Korea reports Samsung is working with PayPal on a smartwatch-based payments system set to be introduced at the Mobile World Congress early next year.

The system will use a combination of NFC and biometric sensors in Samsung’s third generation smartphones to identify customers, receive promotional offers based on nearby stores, and choose products before collecting them in store.

A separate Business Korea article reports Samsung has demonstrated a working prototype of its Tizen TV smart TV platform at an event at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel in Seoul. The platform is set to compete head-to-head against TVs running Google’s Android TV operating system.