LiMo Foundation unveils mobile Linux handsets

The LiMo Foundation launched its first mobile handsets, which run on the Linux-based mobile LiMo platform, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Morgan Gillis, executive director of the LiMo Foundation, said in a statement: "The breadth of the initial wave of LiMo handsets — 18 models from seven vendors — consolidates LiMo's role as the unifying force within mobile Linux."

The LiMo Foundation was established by Motorola, NEC, NTT DoCoMo, Panasonic, Samsung and Vodafone at the beginning of 2007, with the goal of delivering an open, Linux-based platform for mobile devices.

Members of LiMo are hoping to create proprietary applications on their open platform. The LiMo Foundation made application programming interface (API) specifications public on 4 February.

Kiyohito Nagata of NTT DoCoMo, chair of the LiMo Foundation, said: "The mobile industry is embracing Linux and openness as the key enablers of lower device-development costs, increased flexibility and quicker time to market for innovative services of all kinds."

Since its inception, the LiMo Foundation has welcomed LG, McAfee, ARM and Ericsson as members.

Some of the commercial devices running LiMo include the Motorola Razr2 V8 and Motorokr Z6. The launch also included a number of prototype phones, the LG LiMo, Opal(m) from Aplix and the Purple Magic from Purple Labs.

The LiMo Foundation is one of several industry consortia seeking to create a standardised approach to Linux-based handsets, with rivals including the LiPS Forum and the Google-led Open Handset Alliance, which plans to release Android.