OXFORD, United Kingdom-As Microsoft and Symbian fight for dominance in the burgeoning smart-phone operating system (OS) market, U.S.-based Montavista Software has announced it is working with NEC to develop a Linux-based OS specifically targeted for use within cell phones.
According to Montavista, Symbian is the obvious loser to a Linux-based product in the battle being fought largely between Microsoft and Nokia over who will rule the smart-phone OS market.
“The problem with Symbian is that it has the outer appearance of being a platform, but when customers looked in the box and at the OS, they were underwhelmed,” said Bill Weinberg, director of strategic marketing at Montavista. “The major cell-phone manufacturers which are publicly backing Symbian are all privately talking with either our customers or discussing how they can use Montavista Linux for their phones.”
However, while Montavista claims to be in discussions with a number of other cell-phone developers regarding Linux, its announced partner, NEC, said it is still only investigating how it might use the OS and has not yet initiated a design project for a new handset to incorporate the Linux OS.
