ARM developing Linux mobile OS

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 5 Oct 2007 at 15:54

ARM has formed a coalition of industry heavyweights aimed at developing a Linux-based platform for the next generation of smartphones.

The chip designer has signed up Mozilla, Samsung, Marvell, MontaVista and Movial in order to develop and push an open-source platform based on Linux, Gnome Mobile and Mozilla Firefox. It will run across a range of mobile devices ranging from UMPCs to smartphones.

The coalition says it intends to build an open-source operating system, development package and a browser that will combine the familiarity of the PC with the ability to produce a wide range of applications, while significantly improving battery life.

The platform will be completed by early 2008 with devices built upon it reaching the market in early 2009. It will be made available to the open-source community and adopted by all the partner companies as well as Texas Instruments.

"Today's consumers are very knowledgeable about technology, they want to be connected to the internet and access multimedia content and applications anywhere, yet they do not want to be restricted by short battery life and inadequate features that will limit their experiences," says Mike Inglis, executive vice president of Sales and Marketing at ARM.

"By stepping up the collaboration among key stakeholders in the mobile market, we will be able to jointly deliver the devices and applications with the cutting-edge innovation consumers have come to expect."

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