Mobile next battleground for Linux

by admin June 28, 2006 at 2:28 pm

A revolution in mobile open source is on the way, according to one Linux vendor, but analysts say the floodgates aren’t ready to open just yet

The co-founder of one of the most popular mobile Linux platforms has predicted a “revolution” in the use of open source software on phones and handheld devices.

Trolltech?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Eirik Chambe-Eng told delegates at the Open Source Business Conference in London that Linux is set to “make a lot of headlines going forward on embedded devices and mobile phones”.

“We believe we are just now at the beginning of a revolution,” he said on Wednesday, citing what he called the five Cs ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú complexity, control, customisation, cost and community ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú as motivating factors for manufacturers to switch to Linux.

“Linux gives manufacturers and OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] complete control,” said Chambe-Eng, who also claimed that Windows Mobile and Symbian ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Linux?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s two great competitors in the mobile phone market ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú come with “agendas attached”.

“Manufacturers are scared of Microsoft coming in and pushing margins away from the hardware. There are very thin margins in this business, and Symbian and Windows Mobile are typically expensive,” he said.

Full article: ZDNet UK