PALO ALTO, Calif.-Linux software vendor Trolltech announced it appointed wireless entrepreneur Juha Christensen to its board of directors. The move further expands Christensen’s touch and influence in the wireless industry.
Christensen gained notoriety in wireless when Microsoft Corp. hired him away from OS vendor Symbian Ltd. Christensen was a Symbian co-founder, and his move to Microsoft-Symbian’s arch-rival-highlighted the contentious relationship between the two companies. Both Symbian and Microsoft sell operating systems for smart phones.
Christensen left Microsoft two years ago to launch a startup that he said would foster mobile communities and put wireless users in touch with one another. However, he dropped those plans last year to head the wireless operations at Macromedia Corp., which sells its Flash software to handset makers.
Interestingly, Christensen left Macromedia late last year to found startup Sonopia Corp. The company currently is in stealth mode-which means it is refining its products for a public launch-and plans to unveil its technologies and services sometime this winter. According to Sonopia’s Web site, the company “is working on a set of proprietary technologies and online services that enable dramatically increased segmentation of the mobile subscriber market. Narrow segments of subscribers will be able to subscribe to services that are tailored to their needs and wants, driving up voice and data revenues, decreasing churn, decreasing subscriber acquisition cost, increasing customer satisfaction and increasing word of mouth.”
Christensen’s move to Trolltech is notable because the company represents an alternative to the operating systems from both Symbian and Microsoft. Trolltech sells open-source Linux software to the likes of Motorola Inc. and others.
Christensen joins Oracle Corp. executive Tod Nielsen as a new member of Trolltech’s board.
