A group of Linux proponents announced today they have formed a new standards group aimed at promoting Linux software for mobile phones.
“One of the key goals of the Linux Phone Standards Forum is to reduce Linux fragmentation,” said John Ostrem, lead scientist for Palm OS vendor PalmSource Inc. and a board member of the new standards group, which is called LiPS. “We think Linux can support phones well below the smart-phone threshold.”
PalmSource joins ARM, Cellon, Esmertec, France Telecom/Orange, FSM Labs, Huawei, Jaluna, MIZI Research, Montavista and Open-Plug in founding LiPS. Although there are few well-known names among the list of member companies, Ostrem said the roster will grow over the coming months.
The LiPS Forum launches at a crucial time in the worldwide mobile-phone industry. Although most phones run on manufacturers’ proprietary platforms, a growing number of devices feature open operating systems. Such smart phones allow developers to sell software add-ons to manufacturers and full-blown applications to end users.
So far, Symbian controls the majority of the smart-phone market, with PalmSource and Microsoft Corp. commanding much of the remaining business. However, there is a significant amount of interest in Linux platforms for mobile phones. Indeed, Motorola Inc. has pledged wide-ranging support for Linux, and PalmSource eventually plans to move its Palm user interface onto a Linux platform. PalmSource has not said when it plans to move to Linux.
Thus, Ostrem said the time is right for a Linux standards effort. However, Linux still comprises a relatively tiny portion of the overall handset market. Although research firm Canalys found that the worldwide market share of Linux has more than doubled in each of the first three quarters of this year, the platform still commands less than 3 percent of the smart-phone market.
LiPS members hope to change that. The group plans to develop standard Linux software links between a phone’s user interface and its hardware and software components. The specifications would codify the use of Linux in phones, thereby forestalling the development of disparate versions of the platform. The group argues that Linux could move from smart phones to mass-market phones because it is cheaper, more flexible and more reliable than other phone platforms.
“Hopefully we can do away with the blue screen of death,” Ostrem said, referring to Microsoft’s well-known Windows error warning.
Ostrem said LiPS will work alongside other standards efforts, including the recently announced Mobile Linux Initiative from Open Source Development Labs Inc. OSDL’s program is aimed at developing a “Linux kernal” for mobile phones, or the core operating portion of the phone’s software. Ostrem said LiPS is focused on the software that runs on top of the kernal.
LiPS “is very much an operator-focused organization,” Ostrem explained, pointing out that the group already counts European carrier Orange as a member.
Ostrem said LiPS will promote Linux mainly to wireless operators. He said the platform would allow operators to quickly and easily add their own branding and features to a handset. LiPS’ push toward carriers also reflects the changing nature of the mobile-phone industry; large carriers today have much more input into phone development than in past years.
