You are here: silicon.com > Hardware > PDAs

PDAs

Windows-loving Palm embraces Linux

Open source anyone?

Tags: linux, windows mobile, windows, palm

By Jo Best

Published: 11 April 2007 12:47 BST

Palm made headlines not long ago for its adoption of the Windows Mobile operating system. Now the handset maker's CEO has committed to adopting Linux too.

At a Palm analyst day in New York, Palm boss Ed Colligan revealed the company has been working on the platform for a number of years.

The platform, to be unveiled before the end of the year, will run the Palm OS on top of a Linux kernel although the phone maker has no plans to license the technology to other manufacturers.

Colligan said the company's decision to embrace the new OS will help it build a new foundation for Palm. "We expect it to improve reliability, performance and stability... and give us much more flexibility from a platform perspective," he said.

The Palm CEO said he expects extra functionality from the Linux platform, including the ability to handle voice and data traffic at the same time.

Palm had historically favoured its own proprietary OS. However, following a split which saw the company spin off its Palmsource unit, later acquired by Linux specialist Access, the company decided to diversify with a series of Windows Mobile Treos.

Despite its new commitment to Linux, Colligan restated Palm's commitment to using the Windows Mobile OS, telling analysts the company will "continue to deliver the platform focused on the business market".

But as part of its growth strategy, the phone maker hopes to concentrate on the SME and consumer market to drive sales, rather than its traditional enterprise heartland.

Meanwhile, with Palm struggling to definitely mark its place in the brave new world of smart phones, talk of a potential acquisition of the company continues. Colligan declined to comment on the rumour.

  1. Zones
  2. Management
  3. Networks
  4. Software
  5. IT Services
  6. Hardware
  1. Verticals
  2. Public Sector
  3. Financial Services
  4. Retail & Leisure

  • Jobs
IT Support Engineer

We are currently expanding our capacity to meet the Colleges commitment to technological development in support of its learning programmes, and ...

Systems Engineer

Their client relationship model reinforces EDS' commitment to provide clients with a single point of contact armed with the company's full resources. ...

IT Technician, Cambridge (9m FTC)

Performance related compensation - Commitment from us to help you develop personally and professionally - Flexible approach to working hours core ...

CIO50 2008
The silicon.com CIO50 2008 profiles the most influential and innovative tech chiefs in the UK across all industries and organisation size, from the biggest FTSE100 companies to high growth dot-com start ups and the public sector. The list was voted on by the UK CIO community and a panel of experts. Find out more in our latest special report.





Quick Sitemap Links: