Linux boost as first LiMo handsets unveiled

The LiMo Foundation, a global consortium of mobile industry leaders working towards an open handset platform for the whole mobile industry, this week unveiled the first wave of handsets using LiMo – a global Linux-based software platform for mobile devices. Among the brands confirming LiMo handsets are LG Electronics, Motorola, NEC, Panasonic Mobile Communications and Samsung.

The Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week delivered a rare coup for Linux. The weight of five handset leaders, namely LG Electronics, Motorola, NEC, Panasonic and Samsung, has been put behind LiMo, a globally distributed Linux-based software platform for mobile devices. This confirms LiMo as the unifying force in Mobile Linux platforms.

“The breadth of the initial wave of LiMo handsets – 18 models from 7 vendors — consolidates LiMo’s role as the unifying force within Mobile Linux and highlights the strong momentum established in the 12 months since LiMo was launched,”” said Morgan Gillis, executive director of the LiMo Foundation.

A diagram of the The LiMo Foundation Platform

“”Within one year, LiMo has secured powerful industry engagement, announced the on-schedule availability of the LiMo Platform and is today registering the first generation of handsets using LiMo Platform technology. We believe our rapid progress is propelled by LiMo’s inclusive and transparent governance model — with shared leadership and shared decision making — and pragmatic, code-centric approach to open-source innovation.””

Commercial LiMo handsets announced this week are:

* MOTO U9, MOTO Z6w, MOTOROKR Z6, RAZR2 V8, RAZR2 V8 Luxury Edition and MOTOROKR E8 from Motorola:

* NTT DoCoMo FOMA N905i, FOMA N905″”mu””, FOMA N705i and FOMA N705″”mu”” from NEC:

* NTT DoCoMo FOMA P905i, FOMA P905iTV, FOMA P705i and FOMA P705″”mu”” from Panasonic Mobile Communications, and

* SGH-i800 from Samsung.

Prototype and reference handsets announced this week are:

* LG LiMo Phone from LG Electronics,

* OPAL(m) from Aplix and

* Purple Magic from Purple Labs.

“”We look forward to the continued, rapid rollout of LiMo handsets, further expanding LiMo’s market reach and unifying the Mobile Linux ecosystem,”” said Kiyohito Nagata of NTT DoCoMo, chairperson of LiMo Foundation. “”The mobile industry is embracing Linux and openness as the key enablers of lower device development costs, increased flexibility and quicker time to market for innovative services of all kinds. LiMo Foundation is driving these trends.””

Launched in January 2007, LiMo Foundation is open to all vendors and service providers in the mobile communications marketplace, including device manufacturers, operators, chipset manufacturers, independent software vendors, integrators and third-party developers.

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