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In another development at MAPOS, Andy Bush, Director of Business Development at SavaJe, revealed that the company is considering porting its Java OS to a Linux core. Under this paradigm, the Java OS essentially becomes an abstracted middleware and application execution environment, making it strikingly similar to JUIX (as a Java platform running on a Linux core) and products from companies like Sky MobileMedia and OpenPlug.

Linux is open source and advocates are keen to highlight the benefit that this has, combined with Linux' massive developer base, on producing highly optimised and stable code. However, while open source sits at the heart of the industry's attraction to Linux, it has been unclear how open source translates into an economic advantage for OEMs looking to build Linux-based devices. The fact that Linux code is 'free' is of peripheral importance. Two key reasons that we see, result from developments which are driving value in the OS space further up the software stack, and the time-to-market challenges which OEMs are facing with current OS products.

Handset operating software encompasses the core OS, middleware, application execution environment (AEE) and the UI framework. While the low-level OS supports the core functionality of the phone, allowing the higher layers to interact with the underlying hardware (e.g. telephony stack, memory, camera etc.), it provides OEMs with little opportunities for handset differentiation and therefore has limited perceived value. Instead, it is software like the UI framework and AEE which allow operators and OEMs to differentiate their products in the eyes of consumers, and these products are better positioned to generate value.

At the same time, handset development times must be greatly reduced if OEMs and operators are to effectively respond to the incredible speed at which the mobile phone industry is evolving. However, OEMs continue to face massive time-to-market challenges when bringing new handset models to market, and much of this effort is based on integrating the OS with the phone hardware. This is a challenge that OEMs have traditionally faced with both Symbian and Windows mobile, leading to handset development times in excess of two years in some cases.

By comparison, many hardware reference platforms are 'brought-up' in Linux, meaning that they are pre-tested on Linux and there has already been some integration of device drivers and the telephony stack. This can significantly speed the overall development of a phone, particularly when used in conjunction with middleware and AEE components that have been sufficiently abstract so that they too can be quickly ported to the Linux core.

Perhaps the most significant development that has generated the most industry buzz has been the commercial foundation announced in June between Vodafone, NTT DoCoMo, NEC, Panasonic, Motorola and Samsung. Named the 'Open Platform Initiative', the foundation plans to define and develop a mobile Linux reference distribution, comprising of both open source and closed source (proprietary) components. The foundation intends to publish APIs, architecture and test suites aimed at helping adopters assess and demonstrate product conformance to the platform specification.

What is most interesting is that the OPI is led by two major mobile operators. In Vodafone's case, we believe the company's goal is adopt a mature, complete and supported Linux-based platform for its mobile phones, based on its a long-term strategy of reducing the number of handset software platforms. If other major operators follow suit and Linux becomes one the platforms which they chose to consolidate the phone portfolios around, then Linux' future position as a leading OS celebrity will be assured.

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