The Rise of Linux for the Handset

The rise of Linux for the handset

By Paxton Cooper

The ability to address a variety of customer needs by making small modifications or extensions to a common platform can reduce many challenges for handset manufacturers. Because programming and customizing the Linux platform is easy, handset manufacturers can quickly introduce new models with the latest technology and adopt the most up-to-date market trends. Open source, widely adaptable Linux has proven itself a vital tool in the process.

oday’s handset manufacturers face several directly related such as Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), Consumer challenges. They must differentiate their devices in an Electronics Linux Forum (CELF), and Linux Phone Standards Tincreasingly crowded market and respond to their key cus- Forum (LiPS) have launched initiatives seeking to improve tomers, the mobile operators, who are clamoring for increased adoption of mobile Linux on a global basis. Individual com- subscriber revenue through innovative new mobile data services. panies have also launched initiatives to improve mobile Linux adoption. For instance, MontaVista Software has brought its These applications typically result in a significant increase of Mobilinux to market (Figure 1) for mobile and wireless devices, software and multimedia complexity on the device. Porting, test- which delivers an open and flexible operating system enabling ing, and maintaining these applications across multiple operator differentiated and cost-effective phone designs. environments has become more difficult and costly because of diversity in the operating system platforms most manufacturers Open source Linux to the rescue currently support. Bill-of-materials cost pressures also present With Linux, manufacturers see the opportunity to directly a formidable challenge. In addition, increased competition and influence their software platform and achieve the degree of mass market commoditization have created an environment of control they believe is necessary to continue business growth at declining margins and average selling prices for all of the major industry pace. In many cases, vendors are finding their existing manufacturers. Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) platforms are holding them back and driving significant costs into the bottom line. To address these challenges, top tier handset manufacturers Linux provides manufacturers with a malleable, modern, open are beginning to embrace Linux. In fact, telecommunications platform that can be tailored to meet the advanced require- heavyweights NTTFor DoCoMo, Vodafone, Motorola, Samsung, ments of mobileSingle operators while simultaneously enabling a high Print O nly NEC, and Panasonic recently announced they are planning to degree of customization. Traditional RTOSs that power most of collaborate on a Linux platform for handsets – the most signifi- the handsets in the market today are not capable of addressing cant affirmation to date of Linux as a viable platform for next- advanced multimedia requirements because they were not generation mobile phones. Various independent organizations designed for that purpose. Other higher-powered, branded

Figure 1

Embedded Computing Design ©2006 OpenSystems Publishing. Not for Distribution proprietary platforms such as Symbian and Microsoft offer little Meeting today’s market head-on or no ability to drive differentiation. Given today’s highly fragmented market requirements, the ability to address a variety of customer needs by making small modifica- Because any one vendor does not control Linux and developers tions or extensions to a common platform can reduce many chal- The rise of Linux for have access to all source code, device manufacturers retain full lenges for handset manufacturers. Open source, widely adaptable control over their platform architecture and development sched- Linux has demonstrated its importance in this market. ules. This approach also provides manufacturers with greater the handset control over the phone’s presentation and functionality enabling Paxton Cooper is the director of product the creation of truly differentiated products. marketing for MontaVista Software where he is responsible for driving mobile phone Linux and hardware – an early partnership product strategy, marketing programs, and An added intrinsic benefit is that Linux has become a critical strategic partner collaboration with ISVs, requirement for bringing new hardware to market. Because Linux mobile operators, handset vendors, and usage is so broad within the consumer electronics market, silicon semiconductor vendors. Paxton has more manufacturers have trended toward bringing their new designs than 10 years of experience in software up first on Linux. Many of the popular chipsets that manufactur- product marketing across the mobile, ers build their new handset designs on were initially brought up wireless, enterprise, and consumer markets. Before joining with driver designs on Linux. MontaVista, he was a group manager at Sun Microsystems and was a part of the Consumer and Mobile Systems group, where Domination in product portfolios he developed Java (J2ME) and Telecommunications Service Unlike competing mobile operating systems manufacturers, Delivery Platform solution strategies. He holds a BS in handset manufacturers are leveraging Linux as a common plat- Computer Systems Engineering from Stanford University. form across a broad percentage of their portfolio. Because it’s easy to program to and customize the Linux platform, handset For more information, contact Paxton at: manufacturers can quickly spin out new models with the latest technology and address the latest market trends. For example, MontaVista Software, Inc. Motorola has stated on multiple occasions they expect Linux to 2929 Patrick Henry Drive be used across the majority of their portfolio, with other operating Santa Clara, CA 95054 systems being used primarily in point devices. NTT DoCoMo 408-472-7919 and suppliers NEC and Panasonic have announced similar [email protected] positions. Most recently, Panasonic announced intentions to www.mvista.com discontinue development of second-generation GSM devices and focus exclusively on 3G Linux-based handsets. Today, MontaVista Linux is running in more than 25 million phones developed by Motorola, NEC, and Panasonic. For Single Print Only