South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics announced Tuesday it plans to launch new smart air conditioners, refrigerators, TVs and washing machines that run on the company's Tizen operating system.

Tizen is an open-source operating system (OS) that works on mobile phones, wearables, in-car infotainment and smart TVs.

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Reports say Samsung developed the operating system to reduce its dependence on Google's Android OS, which runs on most of the company's smartphone devices. Last September, the company moved 500 software engineers from its mobile division to focus on the Tizen platform.

The South Korean tech giant said it intends to focus on expanding its business for the Internet of Things (IoT) market.

"We are preparing launches of Tizen-powered TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners and other premium-priced home appliances this year," said BK Yoon, Samsung's chief executive officer and head of its consumer electronics unit.

Yoon said Samsung, the world's largest smartphone maker, also plans to connect all its new products to the internet by 2020.

"I think we have to make preparations for the IoT for future growth, as we previously grew in size by switching from... feature phones to smartphones," Yoon said.

Last year, the company acquired U.S.-based home automation startup SmartThings, which will help meet the growing demand for home connected devices.

TagsTizen OS, Home Appliances, Washing Machines, Refrigerators, Air Conditioners, IoT, TVs