Nokia considering Maemo Linux for its mobile phones?
In a side interview at the Nokia World Conference, Ukko Lappalainen, vice president of Nokia’s markets unit, told Reuters, “In the longer perspective, Linux will become a serious alternative for our high-end phones.” He further elaborated upon Nokia’s endorsement of Linux by saying “I don’t see anything in Android which would make it better than Linux Maemo”. Interesting comments coming from a high level Nokia executive. If we assume his comments are accurate, then we may be seeing some Maemo powered handsets in the not so distant future. Such a move to Maemo is not completely surprising as Maemo is currently the OS that powers Nokia’s line of Internet Tablets. Nokia has experience with Maemo Linux and had indicated at the recent Open Source in Mobile Conference that it is committed to further developing that platform. With Android in the hands of the masses, Ubuntu teaming up with ARM and now Maemo being proposed for Nokia handsets, it looks like competition in the Mobile Linux platform is finally starting to heat up.
[Via Linux Devices]
get em, Nokia! Grrr… Lol! They’re certainly equipped to run the game.
N810 GSM edition plz.
Right on.
Linux all the way.
I said it in ‘99 and im saying it again.
N810 GSM?? WiMax data is cheaper, faster, and the tablet isn’t a phone, but a phone companion. Many use it along with their N95 for calling via bluetooth. It has no voice network connectivity. But VOIP or bluetooth calling are viable alternatives.
I myself prefer Symbian, and since it supports Ruby and Qt code, and is free in a year, its just like Maemo, only cheaper. Symbian is the new cousin of Maemo Linux.
I wonder how Nokia can make them coexist? Anyone notice all the Nokia Maemo home peripherals at Nokia World? Is this what we’ll see? All non voice network enabled devices will use Maeon, all voice devices, Symbian? Hmm…
I must admit I am slighty confused by a few of nokias business decisions. 1st they just paid a ton of money to buy all of symbain and now they might shift focus onto linux. why spend all the money for the rights to symbian and then start creating phones on a different platform. seems a bit confusing to me expecally in a time of recession for a company to just be spending money like that.
Nokia has a lot of phones and not all are on the same platform. They already have Linux on E90 as far as I know. Maybe they want S60 for smartphones and Linux for the even more advanced mobile platforms.
uh…no Dan. I’ve used the E90. Its S60. Nokia is already releasing its home automation devices and Nokia Home Internet Radio device which are Maemo based. Nokia is bringing the web and its Ovi services suite to everything.