Verizon chooses Linux as "platform of choice" for mobile phones

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Verizon chooses Linux "platform of choice"[/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica]May 14, 2008[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Verizon Wireless has chosen Linux as its mobile phone "platform of choice," it said. Starting with feature phones in 2009, followed by iPhone competitors, Verizon will offer Linux phones compliant with specifications from the Linux Mobile Foundation (LiMO), an international industry group it and seven other companies joined today.

[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica]In a press conference held by the LiMO Foundation, Verizon's Kyle Malady, network VP, said Verizon will continue to support support RIM (Blackberry), Windows Mobile, Palm, and Brew operating systems, and will consider supporting the Linux-based Google Android platform pushed by the Open Handset Association (OHA). In choosing LiMO over Google's Android platform, Malady said that Verizon Wireless liked LiMo's open, board-run model, and its membership of companies that have already succeeded in shipping Linux phones.

"We are wholeheartedly endorsing LiMo's approach, and we are investing company resources, but we see the opportunity to have both the OHA and LiMo succeed and/or work together," said Malady. "LiMo is our platform of choice, but if there comes a point where we see there is benefit for our customers we will use OHA as well."[/FONT]

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