14 DAY TRIAL // Broadcom Corporation has recently joined the Linux Mobile Foundation (LiMo) as an associate member. LiMo was originally formed by NEC, NTT DoCoMo, Panasonic Mobile Communications, Motorola Inc., Vodafone plc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. It is chartered to deliver a good open-source Linux platform for mobile phones.
Broadcom will work with the LiMo Foundation members to address aspects as power consumption, size and cost, in order to spread the adoption of handsets based on Linux. Broadcom's stepping into the LiMo Foundation follows the recent expansion of its smartphone Design Center in Taiwan, which focuses at present on the development of Windows Mobile solutions, and the adhering to the S60 developers' community for devices that use Symbian S60. These moves show Broadcom's commitment to all popular types of smartphones. Also, the producer has a long history of working within the Linux community on advanced communication products.
Broadcom will gain access to LiMo Foundation's code and participate in working groups that develop the smartphone area. Jim Tran, general manager of Broadcom's mobile communications business states: "Our membership in the LiMo Foundation highlights our commitment to the expanding opportunities within the Linux mobile environment. Support for advanced operating systems, such as Linux, is a key feature of our advanced baseband products and we're excited to support LiMo Foundation devices for both the smart- and feature-phone markets."
Morgan Gilis, executive director of the LiMo Foundation added: "Broadcom's membership in the LiMo Foundation highlights the growing enthusiasm for mobile Linux and the effort to build products within a shared architecture. The power of the LiMo Foundation increases with each new committed contributor and the addition of Broadcom to this alliance will make the technology increasingly attractive for new handset products."
Nokia, one of the leading handset producers is not a member of the LiMo Foundation, but an investor in mobile phone operating system developer Symbian Ltd.