limos

Symbian on the decline: Time to move on open source

While unit sales of mobile handsets are growing, as Ars Technica reports, the leading mobile operating system, Symbian, is on the decline. Perhaps it's time for Symbian to accelerate its plans to open source the operating system?

Symbian's dominance in the smartphone space has been taking a hit lately at the expense of other platforms, including Windows Mobile, the iPhone, and open-source alternatives that reduce licensing costs and offer more flexibility. Symbian's business model and development strategy were out of step with the direction in which the industry was collectively moving....

This prompted Symbian's move toward open source, … Read more

While Symbian and Android promise, Linux continues to hit new phones

Motorola quietly released a series of new Linux-based mobile phones this week. There's been a lot of noise around Symbian moving to open source and Google's Linux-based Android mobile platform, but both open-source Symbian and Android are still just press releases and talk.

Motorola's new ROKR line, however, is available now. You don't have to wait to buy a Linux-based phone. You can start calling with one today.

Who is behind these phones? The LiMo Foundation, which has been releasing a slew of new handsets and signing up new partners. By the time that Symbian and … Read more

LiMo Foundation adds new handsets, members

Seven new mobile phones have passed the LiMo Foundation's certification process, and the group has a few new members to welcome aboard.

The new phones, from Motorola, Panasonic, and NEC, are the latest to ship with Release 1 of the LiMo Platform, a Linux-based operating system for mobile phones developed by a consortium of wireless carriers, handset makers, and others. Panasonic and NEC's phones will be available in Japan through NTT DoCoMo.

There are now 21 phones in the world running the LiMo software, mostly in Asia. But a few, such as Motorola's Rokr E8, are sold … Read more

Symbian deal a catalyst for smartphone competition

We're about to see what full-blown competition for the future of the computing industry looks like when multiple players get a shot to make an impact.

The next great operating systems wars are about to be fought, as traditional computing companies collide with teams representing the mobile phone industry. Nokia's decision Tuesday to unify, then open-source, the Symbian operating system for smartphones clarifies how today's most-widely used handset operating system will evolve to match the open-source initiatives headed by Google and the LiMo Foundation and competition from companies like Microsoft, Research in Motion, and Apple.

Forget RIM … Read more

Nokia looks beyond Symbian to Linux

With a 47.9 percent stake in Symbian, the leading mobile platform that it co-founded in 1998 and which today powers some 206 million mobile phones, Nokia has long championed it at the expense of rival platforms such as Linux.

No longer.

The mobile-phone maker is increasingly selecting Linux for Internet-enabled mobile devices, with its CFO declaring of Linux, "It's going to be terribly important."… Read more

Mozilla joins the mobile Linux revolution

Mozilla has started making noise about the mobile browser market, and just turned up the volume a bit more by joining the mobile Linux trade group, LiMo Foundation. It's not all that significant in and of itself, except that it clearly demonstrates that "Minimo" (now called Fennec) is finally set to break free of its Windows Mobile shackles.

Finally.

Dialed In 31: Behold the BlackBerry Bold

Have mercy. This week Research in Motion debuted the stunning BlackBerry Bold, and while we're enamored with it, we're not calling it an iPhone killer. Plus, Verizon joins the LiMo Foundation, T-Mobile's tops (again), and what's this about a 3G iPhone? All this and more cell phone reviews and reader questions answered. Listen now: Download today's podcast NewsRIM BlackBerry Bold debuts http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9940313-1.htmlVerizon to join LiMo Foundation http://www.news.com/8301-13579_3-9943458-37.htmlGoogle chooses 50 finalists in Android challenge http://www.news.com/8301-13579_3-9942958-37.htmlThe 3G iPhone is … Read more

A look at LiMo phones holds no clues for potential Verizon handsets

Verizon Wireless' announcement that it is joining the LiMo Foundation raises the question of which LiMo-enabled devices the carrier will add to its lineup. Verizon has yet to answer that question, and a look at LiMo's current device lineup holds no clues. At present, none of its devices will work on Verizon's CDMA network. Here's a snapshot of what the foundation currently offers with a focus on U.S. devices.

Motorola U9 The Moto U9 inherits its curvaceous design from the Motorola Pebl U6. It has the same rounded edges and smooth body, though instead of a … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 724: YOU are!

It's episode 724, wherein we argue, but in a happy way. MySpace wins a $234 million antispam judgment they'll probably never collect, and Google blurs faces in Street view, maybe just to be nice. Also, it turns out seniors are more acutely aware of the passing of time (or they hate commercials more than the youngsters do) and Qtrax makes four improbable deals. Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 724

Note: We are making a change to our podcast feed system on Monday, May 19. However, you do not need to subscribe to a new feed. One … Read more