OSLO, Norway-IBM Corp. said it will use software from Trolltech to offer a reference design for building Linux-based mobile devices.
“With an increasingly mobile work force, corporations are looking into deploying enterprise applications on devices across multiple platforms-including Java/Linux,” said Michael Karasick, director of embedded development for IBM’s Pervasive Computing Division. “Mobile applications in IBM’s reference platform, such as Qtopia, can enable mobile employees to access time-sensitive work information wherever and whenever needed.”
IBM’s reference platform includes a low-power IBM PowerPC 405LP microprocessor as well as support for device management and database software, a browser, multimedia, data connectivity and speech and handwriting recognition. Manufacturers can use IBM’s reference design to build the devices.
Trolltech’s Qtopia Linux software is already in use in Sharp Electronics’ Linux-based Zaurus line of personal digital assistants.
