Analysis: Mobile industry pursues Linux platform

By Matt Whipp

Posted on 16 Jun 2006 at 12:28

Microsoft was more dismissive. 'It's not the first time attempts have been made to build a common Unix platform, I've been seeing that for 20-30 years,' said Pieter Knook, Senior VP, Microsoft Mobile and Embedded Devices Division. 'From a developer standpoint you can build apps with the same expertise as with Windows PC. With Windows Mobile we've tightly integrated applications like contents and dialler to further help the development process.'

But the real battle in the mobile industry is not among rival platforms. The great power struggle remains between the handset manufacturers and the network operators, and there's one industry body the latter are signed up to. The Open Mobile Mobile Terminal organisation doesn't just boast Vodafone, but also Orange, T-Mobile, Telefonica Moviles, O2, 3 and Cingular among its members. Its goal is 'gathering and driving mobile terminal requirements. It is technology neutral, with its recommendations intended for deployment across the range of technology platforms, operating systems (OS) and middleware layers.'

In short, it aims to ensure it can quickly develop and offer a range of mobile services without having to worry whether they will work on a given handset. As long as handsets have the OMTP seal then they meet their requirements. And network operators' involvement even in these Linux initiatives have the same agenda.

Our Vodafone spokesperson told us: 'We welcome anything that can help us lower time to market and lower costs [for providing new services]. Speed to market determines who's sucessful and who isn't.'

He said that the Linux initiative should not be seen as an attempt to substitute Symbian or Microsoft's Windows Mobile. Indeed, Vodafone announced a commitment to Symbian earlier this year at the 3GSM conference, said Lashford

She too warned against interpreting these Linux initiatives as a move to make Linux a dominant force in the mobile space. 'Operators may start to consolidate the number of operating systems they use,' she said, but added: 'In our personal view, Linux for mobiles is restricted to featurephones rather than smartphones. We see Linux replacing the proprietary operating systems of handset manufacturers, but it will be tough to compete with smartphones.'