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Qualcomm Adopts Linux for 3G Handsets

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the it's-the-clue-phone dept.

quan74 writes "According to an article at MacNewsWorld, it seems Qualcomm is the latest to add Linux to its handheld devices. 'By introducing Linux on the MSM, Qualcomm supports manufacturer partners who wish to leverage existing Linux applications, third-party developers and application catalogs to reduce their software development costs and improve time-to-market.' What I found interesting is that Linux will be the first third-party operating system supported by Qualcomm."

9 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Risks? by bigtallmofo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm all for pushing technology forward, but integrating so many functions into one device can have a downside..

    I don't think we're too far off from having spyware for mobile phones that sends advertising SMS messages to everyone in your phone address book. Or even calls everyone and plays a pre-recorded message. As these things become more ubiquitous, they'll be a larger and larger target.

    --
    I'm a big tall mofo.
    1. Re:Risks? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      spyware is already coming to mobile phones, and guess who's operating system is being exploited ? its not Windows this time

      In the past months, our developers have prepared Spybot-S&D for the next platform that is currently getting endangered. Spybot-S&D for Symbian cell phones is sitting here on our hard disks, and we planed to release it as RCs along with the 1.4 RCs, and - if everything runs smooth - the final along with the Spybot-S&D 1.4 for Windows final.

      from the Fantastic SpyBot S&D home page

    2. Re:Risks? by Spacejock · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I agree. I held of getting a new mobile for about five years (the old one is a brick which makes calls, and that's all I need) This new phone is a fiddly PDA without a proper keyboard, a digital camera with lousy resolution and it doesn't make phone calls that well either... Yes, it has obscure multi-function buttons. Do I press the green or blue sideways L to make a call? Hell no, it's another sideways blue L leaning the other way. Oops, pressed the middle of the button instead of the 1/16" bevelled edge. Now it's doing something else. Did I just hang up? Did I just call someone? Damned if I know, I'll find out when the bill arrives.

      This phone is like Win 3.1 skinned by Enro Rubik.

      --
      Hal Spacejock: Science Fiction with Nuts
  2. Difference in total cost.. by wcitech · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I remember reading somewhere that the cost of a single liscense of Windows Mobile is only a few bucks. What is the total cost saved by using Linux in handheld devices? It'd be interesting to compare.

    1. Re:Difference in total cost.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I doubt they're using it as a cost savings. I'd think they're using it because it's so customizable and can be a small or large as they want it depending on features.

  3. Re:Really? by Dext · · Score: 2, Interesting

    i doubt the companys will release the source code for the software even if it is linux. and considering the applicatiosn that run on these devices are ususaly very small and take little input from the user it should be easy for the developers to make it pretty secure. they could probaly even use some kind of hashing system to check the images to insure you cant use a cellphone with modified OS image.

  4. Re:It's all about getting there first by dfghjk · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "...and that, by its nature, makes your job much more difficult."

    No it doesn't. Nothing you said makes any sense at all. Linux, compared to other products that may be used, is not "so well understood and documented that you can produce products much faster". It's all a matter of what your development team already knows. Linux is unlikely to be easier to work with than other products made specifically for the purpose and keeping secrets does not require extra work. Linux has been around long enough already that we'd see the migration if what you said was true. Linux has so far failed as a PDA platform. Phones will be even harder.

  5. good by suezz · · Score: 2, Interesting

    does this mean the will be releasing a driver for the airport card on macs for linux.

    at least I think it is them that manufacture the card.

    I think we start throwing our weight around a little bit - where if these companies are going to use open source to make money then how about making some drivers for the everday devices - i.e. why doesn't ibm make a dvd player for linux that can ship with their laptops. I know I would buy one if that was the case.

  6. Its the perception, not the reality by bluGill · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Linberg wasn't the first to cross the Atlantic, but most people think he was, most of those who know he wasn't (such as me) have no clue who was first.

    I once worked for a company making routers years before Cisco started, yet Cisco has convinced everyone they were first. (I don't think this was intentional on their part) That company often introduced a new technology that Cisco released about a year latter. We never went anywhere though, while Cisco made billions.

    First is interesting. It is useful for those who need it now. However first is not the jump most people think it is. Quality, price, reputation and marketing matter at least as much.