In a statement issued to TechRadar, Samsung confirms earlier rumors that its next flagship Android smartphone and Galaxy S II successor, the Galaxy S III, will not be introduced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona at the end of this month. Instead, it will be shown off at a seperate event later in the first half of 2012, closer to commercial availability.

However, Samsung is not abandoning MWC in any way. The electronics giant is still going to introduce several new phones at the trade show.

The Verge speculates that this move could be designed to shorten the traditional gap between wordwide release and availability on US carriers. Whether the late introduction is really indicating a later release date remains to be seen, though; while the Galaxy S II was unveiled at MWC, the launch was only several months later, in May. It seems to us that Samsung is adopting the strategy of other companies like Apple and Microsoft, who have pulled back from trade shows and usually make announcements only shortly before commercial availability.