From the ‘penguins included‘ files:
If you’re not using a Linux powered cell phone yet, you might be sooner than you think. The LiMo Foundation today announced that at least six major operators will be delivering Linux based mobile phones in 2009.
LiMo is group focussed on providing a standard Linux based operating platform for mobile providers. In June of 2008 it absorbed its rival the LiPS (Linux Phone Standards) and in my view now competes squarely against Google’s Android and Nokia’s Symbian.
The new Linux phones will come from NTT DOCOMO, Orange, SK Telecom, Telefonica, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone all of whom are LiMO contributors in some way.
“The powerful commitments being made by LiMo’s operator members clearly demonstrates that the LiMo Platform is delivering a highly efficient, consistent and flexible code base that can be optimized to meet the market and technical requirements of major mobile operators,” said Morgan Gillis, executive director of the LiMo Foundation in a statement. “This also signals substantial growth and opportunity for OEMs and developers to create devices and applications that meet the needs of major operators.”
LiMO claims now to have 33 commercial mobile phones certified as being LiMo compliant.
While I’ve been writing about mobile Linux for years this new push of handset from some of the world’s biggest carriers is a big deal. It furthers LInux’s push into mobile and it definitely positions Linux as a mainstream technology for mobile.
