A Linux 'Ecosystem' For Cell Phones

vinohradska writes "Businessweek has a new article on Linux on Cell Phones. It features an interview with Michael Sudol, general manager of the group at Motorola PCS that's focused on Linux. 'Rather than be held prisoner to any company's proprietary software, cellular service providers (which distribute most phones) are beginning to ask specifically for Linux-based handsets.'"

Comments

Re:Finally! Ultimate convergence

[gl4ss]

well.. don't get too excited yet.

the main reason why operators are asking for something _they_ can easily modify would be sandboxing(aka 'branding') their customers only to services they offer(note: this is exact opposite of what we geeks as customers would like!). motos linux thingys aren't really consumer customisiable or even friendly for that, what good is a linux kernel if you are unable to get to it, unable to modify anything on the phone?

(ironically?) the most open phones currently are the symbian phones(series60 and uiq, which run unsigned programs) which don't have much limitations on what native symbian programs can do(j2me is sandboxed on these of course, as it is on every device). there's pretty cool programs out there already, from incoming call notifier replacements to programs that add background noise to phone calls.

note: pretty much all phones are starting to play mp3's as ringtones..