Twenty New Linux Cell Phones On The Way

An anonymous reader writes "Trolltech announced today that more than fifty companies are currently developing or shipping Linux-based devices using its Qtopia graphical application platform software, including more than twenty mobile phones. 'We think that 2005 is going to be a real breakout year for Linux on cellphones,' Trolltech CEO Haavard Nord told LinuxDevices.com. Motorola has already been shipping Linux phones in China, and has achieved its initial objectives there, according to Nord. 'We expect that in 2005, Motorola is going to start shipping Linux phones outside of China,' Nord added."

Comments

good and bad

[jeif1k]

It's good to see Linux on more phones. But the dependence on Qtopia is worrisome. Unlike Qt on the desktop, where Qt applications can run alongside applications written in other toolkits, Qtopia takes over the display: the only way you can write applications for these devices is by using Qt/Embedded.

That's a good deal for Troll Tech, who gain lots of Qt developers if Qtopia catches on. It's not such a good deal for users, because their choice of toolkits and applications is greatly restricted, and because Qt/Embedded is not a particularly efficient toolkit. Furthermore, the PIM applications that Qtopia ships with simply are nowhere near as good as those on Palm (I have had several Sharp Zaurus PDAs and I wouldn't want to use them as a PDA). It's unfortunate that Linux's first shot at the PDA and phone market is hampered by Qtopia.

Re:good and bad

[advocate_one]

it's not intended that the user can have a choice of toolkits or applications... the only choice the user will have is what "wallpaper" or ringtone he/she's going to rent this week... the entire market is designed entirely around the concept of the service provider locking the user up into the content delivery model. Not around any concept of the user having any choice.

Sadly, although these things are using Linux, it's basically locked away from the user and they're going to make it very hard for the user to actually get at it.

Re:good and bad

[jeif1k]

Many current phones allow users to install applications. Java is probably the most popular for that purpose right now. What could give Linux phones a big advantage is the large number of applications and tools that exist for the platform already.

Re:good and bad

[advocate_one]

In developer space yes, but for the user experience, everything will be locked up tight... the only programs the user will be able to install are those they have purchased from a service provider... and those will be locked down such that they can only run on that handset. Open source content providers and developers will find it hard to get in... there's so much money to be milked out of the customer by using lockins and DRM to control the content delivery to the sucker^H^H^H^H^H^Hconsumers and any development kits will be released with draconian licensing terms and NDAs to be able to get access to the DRM stuff. The service providers DO NOT want the customer being able to play content/install software aquired via other channels unless it has been paid for and has DRM.

Sadly, one of the basic freedoms guaranteed by truly free software licenses effectively allows them to get away with it... Freedom 0, the fundamental freedom... the freedom to run the program for ANY purpose...

Re:good and bad

[GraemeDonaldson]

It's not such a good deal for users, because their choice of toolkits and applications is greatly restricted

Joe Sixpack doesn't know what a toolkit is, why should he? Why should he care?

and because Qt/Embedded is not a particularly efficient toolkit

Judging by my Nokia 6600, Symbian isn't all that efficient either but apparently Joe Sixpack doesn't care about that either. I have several friends with 6600s who say it's a lovely phone, etc. etc. but it frustrates me no end. It's slow, it hangs it crashes, it reboots.

It's unfortunate that Linux's first shot at the PDA and phone market is hampered by Qtopia

Once again, for 0.1% of the cellphone-using population (i.e. the fanatical Linux zealots), this may be a major issue, but Joe Sixpack doesn't know/care what Linux is.

Re:good and bad

[jeif1k]

Once again, for 0.1% of the cellphone-using population (i.e. the fanatical Linux zealots), this may be a major issue, but Joe Sixpack doesn't know/care what Linux is.

You are quite right: users don't care what the toolkit is. They care about size, battery life, performance, ease of use, and choice of software. So do I, in fact. Unfortunately, Qtopia affects all of those negatively relative to other possible GUIs on top of Linux. In the end, the dominance of Qtopia for Linux PDAs/phones may well mean that people will continue to buy mostly Palm and PocketPC-based devices.

Well, at least Palm is switching to a Linux kernel, and unlike Qtopia, their user interface doesn't suck. So, Linux may yet live on PDAs.

hmmm

[Weh]

was never very crazy about motorola phones anyhow.

So, what do you use to compose text messages?

[advocate_one]

EMACS or VI???

Re:So, what do you use to compose text messages?

[Leroy_Brown242]

VIM!

Re:So, what do you use to compose text messages?

[Anonymous Coward]

Viper!

Who cares!

[Leroy_Brown242]

I'm not so much interested in what OS the phone runs. Not until mobiles phones are faster.

Right now my biggest point of frustration is how slow my phone can move between functions, and how long it takes to open something as simple as the calculator.

I have a Nokia 6820b, not a cheapo or old phone. I'd expect more from a $200+ USD phone.

So what?

[fmaxwell]

Twenty New Linux Cell Phones On The Way

I'm not following how this is important. Was there someone who doubted that Linux had the power, or a small enough footprint, to use in a cell phone? Or was there some surprise that a phone maker would be willing to use an OS which cost them nothing? To me, this is like celebrating the release of cell phones using MAX712 ICs (to control the battery charging).

I buy cell phones for the features and performance. I want to hear about cell phones with 3+mp cameras that use SD cards. Tell me about cell phones that double as WAAS-equipped GPS receivers. Put up a story when there is a cell phone that includes an EPIRB. Tell me about cell phones which include laser pointers, LED flashlights, high-end MP3 capabilities, and WiFi. I have no interest in what OS they run.

Re:So what?

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, maybe other people have interests that differ from yours?

No, you're right, that's just silly.

Re:So what?

[fmaxwell]

Well, maybe other people have interests that differ from yours?

I'm aware of that, but I'm having trouble understanding who would find this interesting. Linux proponents can't be surprised that it can do something as mundane as run a cell phone. It's not like a cell phone can be used as a workstation, so people looking for portable Linux workstations won't find this information useful. Economists aren't going to be shocked that cell phone vendors are choosing a free (as in beer) operating system. As I said, it's like a story announcing that cell phones using a MAX712 IC are being released. Whoopee!

Re:So what?

[Psychofreak]

Most people will never have use of an EPIRB. Having that feature available would be cool, but I can hardly imagine the fallout of multiple accidental activations of the device. Activation of an EPIRB causes a serious response.

The WAAS enabled GPS would be most beneficial because it WILL help with getting directions and emergency response times. Through use of tower tracking the precision and accuracy is much enhanced with existing infrastructure.

I am still on the lookout for a waterproof compact flip phone. I go fishing in rivers and have drowned my phone a few times( it has survived every try though, after a week of drying!) I don't even need fully waterproof or JIS-7, even though I would appreciate that as a standard.

Just think for everybody else: You are outside and have a rain shower, or what I call a "Sun Shower" where the cloud that is raining is not blocking the beautiful summer day. Now that conference you didn't go to the office for is ruined, and your boss is pissed, AND you are out your nice phone!

I have also heard many people state that they spilled some drink across their desk/table/lap and got enough coffee/tea/juice into their phone to cause it to quit. I have told these people to take out the battery and open every cover or shield it has. Get a bottle of the strongest rubbing alcohol they can, and go to town flushing out the phone. Let the phone sit in pieces for a week, and give it a go. I have had most of these people tell me that their phone survived the experience, and that funny problem or sticky button it had went away too!

Now, about Linux on a phone... It WOULD be nice to have a shell function available to run some type of software. I am sure that the hooks for the games functions are going to be published, but people might find it strange to have some productivity something under "games".

I think that Linux on a phone is important because of the stability the system offers. Since Joe Sixpack is going to be the normal user there really is no worry about the additional features that COULD be included. Even the highest Linux Guru will probably not care in the end as long as the phone performs properly.

Then again phones are going to act more like PDA's, and are already well on their way. It will be important to have stability and the ability to handle broken software without disturbing the "basic" functions of the device such as telecommunication, address and date book functions.

I hope that my $0.02 is at least worth rubbing together
Phil

Re:So what?

[fmaxwell]

Most people will never have use of an EPIRB.

Agreed. I used that as an example of a vertical market feature -- not something to be included on Joe Sixpack's mobile phone.

The WAAS enabled GPS would be most beneficial because it WILL help with getting directions and emergency response times.

It would also be a blessing for boaters who now have to carry a backup GPS in case of failures or electrical problems relating to the primary GPS. As a fisherman, I'd love it. I'd also love being able to waypoint neat spots any time I happened across them.

I am still on the lookout for a waterproof compact flip phone. I go fishing in rivers and have drowned my phone a few times( it has survived every try though, after a week of drying!) I don't even need fully waterproof or JIS-7, even though I would appreciate that as a standard.

I don't care if it's a flip phone or not. Just as long as it is compact and waterproof. I think JIS-7 or CFR-46 are perfectly reasonable standards and ones that have already been met by handheld marine radios for years now.

I see something like a ruggedized, rubber-jacketed, waterproof mobile phone as being very marketable to everyone from mountain bikers to hikers to boaters. I'm just amazed that no such phones are readily available.

I think that Linux on a phone is important because of the stability the system offers.

I've got a high-end Sony T610 (Bluetooth, IRDA, camera, PDA functions, games, color screen, etc.) and it's never crashed.

Since Joe Sixpack is going to be the normal user there really is no worry about the additional features that COULD be included. Even the highest Linux Guru will probably not care in the end as long as the phone performs properly.

Agreed.

I hope that my $0.02 is at least worth rubbing together

It was insightful and thought-provoking. Thanks.