InfoWorld Daily | Tom Sullivan | InfoWorld | Talkback: Does Linux have the right stuff for mobile devices? | December 15, 2006 10:30 AM

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Talkback: Does Linux have the right stuff for mobile devices?

December 15, 2006 | Comments: (0)

Talkback: Does Linux have the right stuff for mobile devices?

In this Computeworld article we are running today, reporter David Haskin writes: Linux has been mentioned as a potentially leading platform for mobile devices for as long as there have been mobile devices. However, mobile Linux is still largely missing in action. The new crop of high-visibility smart phones such as the Samsung BlackJack, the Nokia E62 and the Treo 680 are based on Microsoft's Windows Mobile, the Symbian and the aging Palm OS platforms.

So why are some in the mobile industry saying, once again, that Linux is on the brink of becoming a significant platform for advanced mobile devices such as smart phones? And why should anybody but industry insiders and geeks care?

Perhaps, a more apt question for you, dear InfoWorld.com readers, is: Is Linux the best platform for smart devices, and why ... What's wrong with MS, Symbian and Palm OS, and do we need another mobile OS?

Posted by Mike Barton on December 15, 2006 10:30 AM

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COMMENTS

Linux for mobiles? Yes an no.

Yes, Linux will work for feature/basic phones. Linux lowers costs and meets the mobile need.

No, Linux will not succeed in enterprises demanding smartphone-class devices. There is no software ecosystem for third party applications a la Symbian/S60 and Windows Mobile. And Linux on mobiles involves the OS kernel and the UI layer. UI layers are different between vendors. So third parties developing for Linux need to go through the painful process of porting/testing various Linux/UI combinations. If you're going to deploy an enterprise application, you'll go with something tried & true (and supported) than save a few dollars.

If Linux for mobiles can standardize and cultivate a third party ecosystem, then it might succeed.

Posted by: Todd Thiemann at December 15, 2006 12:30 PM

Well Sharp has Linux on its very capable Zaurus series of PDAs. These are really fairly high-powered linux computers. Linux makes very good sense for portable computing and smart phones.

Posted by: CJ at December 16, 2006 11:27 PM

He's right, Linux is a freedom trap at this point.It needs to regulate itself but might not be able to do it because of the nature of a module based OS.

There's probably nothing wrong with Windows CE at this point since it's open source.

Posted by: Mark at December 17, 2006 04:39 AM

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