The Opportunity of Mobile Linux in Danger

Eugenia writes "I just posted an editorial on the state of Linux for cellphones. Currently, there are 6 different initiatives and alliances, all completely incompatible between them, and in my opinion this kills a great opportunity for a unified 'Linux platform' that can compete with Windows Mobile and Symbian S60. As for the existing released Linux phones, only MiZi Research has an SDK freely available to create a GUI application for it. Motorola sells thousands more handsets than MiZi does through Samsung, and yet they don't release their EZX SDK. C|Net also wrote today: 'while Linux had a lot to offer in comparison with proprietary systems, such as improved scalability and flexibility, it is lacking in other areas, industry watchers said. Ovum telecommunications analyst Tony Cripps said that Linux-based smart phones are currently inhibited by the lack of a standardized application environment for third parties to write to, unlike Symbian's offerings.'"

Comments

It is a shame...

[JPribe]

that even in the OSS community there are still too many pissing matches that sound remarkably like "It's my way or the highway."

Not just for cell phones

[Mr. Sketch]

Currently, there are 6 different initiatives and alliances, all completely incompatible between them, and in my opinion this kills a great opportunity for a unified 'Linux platform' that can compete with Windows Mobile and Symbian S60

Now, if only we had this unified 'Linux platform' for the desktop, then maybe we could compete with Windows XP.

What a load of bullshit!

[mrchaotica]

Haven't all these manufacturers heard of GPE, Opie, or even Maemo? Those ought to be easily adapted to run on phones instead of just PDAs.

I think the real reason they're all going proprietary (and not providing SDKs) is because the service providers don't want there to be an easy way for anybody but them to make applications for the phones.

Re:What a load of bullshit!

[poopie]

I think the real reason they're all going proprietary (and not providing SDKs) is because the service providers don't want there to be an easy way for anybody but them to make applications for the phones. Bingo! Just look at the phone services today and how much they're trying to charge for things that users could do for free...

couple of bucks PER MONTH for privilege of sending text messages

overage charges if you send too many text messages. Come on! TEXT MESSAGES! This is a miniscule amount of data compared to voice.

Pay for IM client

couple of bucks to download a ringtone or a backdrop pic!

couple of bucks to download a lame java game

couple of bucks PER MONTH to get email notifications about something

require use of airtime to transfer photos via email

no Wireless support to allow free data transfer (because someone might come up with a VoIP client for phones, I'm sure). Why can't I surf the web from my phone using wireless when it's in range and *NOT* have to pay cellular charges Seriously, the US is so far behind in cell phone technology and customer services options compared to Asia, it's not even funny.

Re:What a load of bullshit!

[quincunx55555]

I think the real reason they're all going proprietary (and not providing SDKs) is because the service providers don't want there to be an easy way for anybody but them to make applications for the phones.

I agree, but I think that's only part of it. I think primarily, they aren't used to thinking that way AT ALL. In their world, they'll get in trouble using someone else's technology. In their world, if they don't create something unique and protect it like it's their genitals; then a competitor will kill them. The fear created by the closed-proprietary-ImGunnaGetMyLawersForYourIP world would easily put the blinders on them when considering using something created by someone else (even if they did want to tweak it to force income).

I wonder why not?

[ajs318]

First let me say how I'd like a Linux smartphone to work. I'd like to plug it into my computer with a USB cable and see various peripherals. A hard drive, that goes without saying. A network adaptor with a DHCP server; a web server on port 80 with the phone's web-based configuration; a database server on port 3306 containing the phone book, call logs and sundry housekeeping information, e.g. remaining talktime; a gateway to the outside world {via GPRS or 3G}; and assorted other servers, possibly including a SIP / IAX gateway. Two sound cards: one being the phone's own mic and speaker, and the other being the phone line.

Since the business of charging for a call is handled by the base station and not the handset, there are no implications for making things open that benefit the subscriber at the expense of the telephone company {though I can think of some that might benefit the telco at your expense ..... you would have to keep a close watch on how much talktime you bought while developing applications, for fear of eating it all up}.

But it's unlikely to happen without government intervention, because keeping things closed and proprietary benefits the handset manufacturers {to a limited extent} and the telcos {to a greater extent}. The easier it is for the likes of me and thee to muck about with our phones, the harder it is for the corporations to charge us money for cheesy applications.

I read the headline wrong

[poot_rootbeer]

I assumed from the headline that the story would be about the opportunity for Danger Inc., the company that developed the Sidekick handsets and operates its data services, to leverage Mobile Linux on a future version of their device.

It actually may not be a bad idea for them -- their current platform of a custom J2ME implementation on ARM7 doesn't seem to have much of a future. Few developers are producing software for it due to its differences from other handsets (and its restricted distribution model). It's falling behind even less expensive handsets in the market in terms of hardware support for things like Bluetooth and EDGE.

Opening up the platform and making it a tiny Linux box could give Danger a whole new market for the device: techies who don't care much for Blackberries or Treos.

But as long as Paris Hilton and P. Diddy are happy with theirs, that may never happen.