Interesting take on mobile Linux

While I was at IDC, I managed the team that watched system software and virtualization software. That team was one of the very first in the industry to include Linux in its operating system research. It also published some of the very first statistics (1994 data) showing how Linux was faring against more well known operating systems, like Windows and Unix. While there, I had many opportunities to meet with the movers and shakers in the operating system market. From time to time, these interesting people contact me again. Lord only knows why they'd like to speak with me again.

This time, William Weinberg, General Manager of the Linux Phone Standards Forum (LiPS) and well known author in the world of Linux and open source software, reconnected with me. After many attempts to find a mutually workable schedule, we finally were able to speak with one another.

At first the conversation centered on what LiPS is doing to help device manufacturers and carriers develop and support Linux-based devices. LiPS and several other organizations are helping manufacturers and carriers understand why working together in a community effort would reduce their overall costs while still offering customers innovative products.

Then the conversation went on to discuss how the good Mr. Weinberg moved from the Open Source Development Lab (now part of the Linux Foundation) to LiPS.

During that part of our rambling conversation, he mentioned that he'd recently published a high level review of some of the rationnale behind LiPS. Here's a pointer to that document. I found it a useful overview of where and how Linux would fit in a mobile and wireless environment. You just might find it interesting as well.