Samsung apparently plans to merge its homegrown bada software with Tizen, which is itself the merger of multiple mobile Linux projects. An executive of the Korean electronics giant mentioned the move in an interview with Forbes last week, and on Monday confirmed the plans to Reuters.

The move means that apps written for bada (which is Korean for “ocean”) should run on Tizen, assuming that operating system finds its way onto devices. Tizen is a successor to MeeGo, an effort that was backed by both Intel and Nokia, until Nokia revamped its plans to focus on Windows Phone.

The timing for when the merger should be complete was not immediately clear, though Samsung told Forbes that the effort is already under way.

Citing sources, The Wall Street Journal reported last year that Samsung was working on a plan to open-source the operating system.

Though not sold on phones in the U.S., bada has gained some ground in other countries.

Update: Samsung tells AllThingsD that it is considering merging bada into Tizen, but that a final decision has not been reached.

“Samsung and other members of Tizen Association have not made a firm decision regarding the merge of bada and Tizen,” Samsung said in a statement. “We are carefully looking at it as an option to make the platforms serve better for customers. As Samsung’s essential part of multi-platform portfolio, bada will continue to play an important role in democratizing smartphone experience in all markets. Samsung will also support open source based development and continue to work together with other industry stakeholders.”

Earlier this year, LiMo uncrated a first wave of handsets running on its Linux-based software platform for mobile devices–18 devices from seven vendors. And now the foundation is adding some big names to its roster of mobile-phone outfits. This morning, LiMo announced eight new members, among them: Mozilla, developer of the Firefox Web browser and Verizon Wireless (VZ).

The companies’ membership is an important endorsement for LiMo–Verizon’s in particular. The mobile-phone player seems quite invested in LiMo and its vision of mobile Linux, which is far more Democratic than the OHA, which is one of those wonderful we’re-Google-and-Google-always-knows-best democracies. So much so that Verizon has declared LiMo’s to be its preferred mobile OS.

“We are wholeheartedly endorsing LiMo’s approach, and we are investing company resources, but we see the opportunity to have both the OHA and LiMo succeed and/or work together,” Kyle Malady, vice president of networks at Verizon Wireless, said during a conference call with reporters this morning. “LiMo is our platform of choice, but if there comes a point where we see there is benefit for our customers we will use OHA as well.”

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