The Samsung Galaxy Fold was Samsung's first serious attempt at a foldable smartphone, but its release was marred by problems with the hinge and the fragility of the foldable screen. Then the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip was announced earlier this month, and (initially) it appeared that many of the issues surrounding the previous model had been fixed.

One of its key features is the "foldable glass" built into the device. As a result of a collaboration with glass manufacturer Dowoo Insys, Yonhap News has learned that the flexible, ultra-thin glass (or UTG) will soon be made available by Samsung to other smartphone makers.

This means that other companies such as OnePlus, HTC, and Apple can begin using Samsung's technology to develop their own foldable handsets. Korean smartphone makers have already sold display technology to other companies, but rarely has a screen technology appeared in a cell phone that could so radically change the phone.

Unfortunately, while clearly an improvement over the fragile Samsung Galaxy Fold or the Huawei Mate X, some claim that the Z Flip's screen has a protective layer of plastic that is easily scratched. If this layer is removed, the screen will crack.

However, if the concept takes off, as Corning's Gorilla Glass has gone through six iterations so far, it is hoped that the next few generations of foldable devices will improve the screen's durability. [The commercialization of new foldable glass technology will enable the democratization of foldable handset technology, as it will become cheaper and more reliable as more smartphone manufacturers take up the challenge of this technology. Eventually, we may see the long-rumored foldable iPhone or a phone with a price point suitable for a mid-range handset.

This is an exciting development in the emerging foldable phone market. However, for other companies to buy into the technology, Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip, Huawei's Mate X, and even the redesigned Motorola Razr will have to prove a hit with smartphone fans.

Has Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip piqued interest in a foldable iPhone or iPad? No doubt early adopters like Apple will acquire UTG to conduct their own folding experiments. I can't wait to see what they do with UTG in the months and years to come.

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