NEC, Panasonic spin Linux mobile phone software

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Nov. 18, 2004

NEC Corporation (NEC) and Panasonic Mobile Communications have developed a Linux-based software platform for 3G (third-generation) mobile phones. The platform has already shipped in one phone, with two more pending. The platform works with a 3G network in Japan, but will be licensed globally, the companies say.

(Click for larger view of NEC N900iL)

The NEC/Panasonic design works with FOMA, or "Freedom of Mobile-multimedia Access," a brandname for 3G network services from NTT DoCoMo that deliver Internet access at broadband speeds. NTT is Japan's largest mobile carrier in Japan, but it has lagged in 3G customer subscriptions. It first announced it would adopt Linux for its 3G handsets in December, 2003, and it subsequently contributed to the NEC/Panasonic reference design.

According to NEC, the design will be used initially in three 3G mobile phones, including:

NEC-made N901iC (FeliCa compatible)
NEC N900iL
Panasonic-made P901i

Of the three, only NEC's N900iL (pictured) is shipping today. The N900iL is described as a dual-network model that can connect through corporate LANs, as well as FOMA cellular networks. It targets corporate users, and was released earlier this month. Release dates of the other two models have not been announced.

NEC says the new Linux phone platform facilitates the addition of advanced features through third-party software, while leveraging the utility and versatility of Linux. Adopting Linux enables designers to focus on application software, NEC says, rather than the operating system layer.

NEC and Panasonic say their Linux-based software platform will appear in additional as-yet unannounced 3G mobile phone handsets for the Japanese market. The companies are also preparing to license the platform to handset makers serving the global market, they say, and to application software design houses in Japan and abroad.

Another Linux mobile phone reference design -- a hardware/software package from China's national phone equipment vendor Datang -- launched last week. The Datang design includes Qtopia Phone Edition (QPE), an application stack, user interface, and development framework from Trolltech that appears to be gaining momentum. QPE was revised last week, and was picked up by reseller and IT consulting house Toshiba Information Systems.

Yet another Linux hardware/software reference design, from Shanghai-based E28, won an industry award in Hong Kong last week.

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