The undated photo shows a model of Samung smartphone. [Photo/Xinhua]

Cellphone giant Samsung's China office has said on Monday that it will enable consumers to remove at least half of pre-installed apps on their smartphones, starting from August 1, People's Daily reported.

Earlier this month, the Shanghai Consumer Council filed a lawsuit against the South Korean smartphone maker and Chinese company Oppo, charging them of placing pre-installed apps or " bloatware" that could not be deleted from mobile phones.

In Monday's media briefing concerning the lawsuit, Chen Liren, vice president of Media Solution Center of Samsung Electronics China, says customers can visit Samsung's after-sales service centers to upgrade their phones so as to remove 24 of the 48 pre-set apps.

Right now, the renewed service only applies to the N9008S, but the company says it will seek solutions for other models as well.

The move has prompted welcome from the Shanghai Consumer Council which applauds the quick response and cooperative attitude of Samsung. However, the consumers' rights protection body says it will not withdraw the lawsuit at the moment.