Hello Netlanders,

Four mobile handset makers are teaming up with two cellular operators
to develop a new Linux software platform for mobile devices.

Cell phone makers Motorola, NEC, Panasonic Mobile Communications and
Samsung Electronics, along with mobile operators NTT DoCoMo and
Vodafone, expect to announce on Thursday plans to form an independent
foundation to develop a common mobile Linux-based platform. They will
use this platform to develop new products, applications and features.

Linux, an open-source operating system, is already available on a wide
range of mobile handsets. Motorola alone says it has shipped more than
5 million Linux-based handsets, mostly on smart phones, such as the
Ming model shipped in China. In addition, Motorola just launched the
new Rokr E2 music phone in Asia, which also uses Linux. The Rokr E2
will soon ship in Europe.

Other handset makers have shipped a similar volume of Linux-based
handsets, said Christy Wyatt, the vice president of ecosystem and
market development for Motorola and a spokeswoman for the new Linux
foundation.

But until now, each handset maker has built its own operating system
using the Linux kernel. This has led to a wide variety of
implementations in the market, each of which must be tested
individually by mobile operators.

May be some day Linux would be there on ur Mobile Too!
I am lovvin it!
Alok