Linux To Claim 203 Million Mobiles By 2012

April 11, 2007

Linux appears to be gaining ground as a mobile telephone real-time operating system (RTOS) according to a report by ABI Research. The study projects that by 2012, more than 127 million mobile devices will be enabled with a commercial Linux operating system (OS) compared to 8.1 million in 2007. Additionally, device shipments that incorporate Linux as an RTOS replacement are set to grow to more than 76 million units in 2012, up from nearly zero in 2007. The report, "Mobile Linux: Bringing License-Free Operating Systems to Smartphones and Mid-Tier Devices," that growing collaboration between industry initiatives, and the introduction of complete solutions such as the Trolltech-led GreenSuite, and ALP from ACCESS will contribute to the growth of the Linux OS for mobile devices. But the industry still needs to understand the total cost of ownership for Linux solutions. The report indicates that significant barriers still exist and must be addressed before Linux emerges as a major OS for mobile devices.

ABI Research

About the Author

Jack Browne

Technical Contributor

Jack Browne, Technical Contributor, has worked in technical publishing for over 30 years. He managed the content and production of three technical journals while at the American Institute of Physics, including Medical Physics and the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology. He has been a Publisher and Editor for Penton Media, started the firm’s Wireless Symposium & Exhibition trade show in 1993, and currently serves as Technical Contributor for that company's Microwaves & RF magazine. Browne, who holds a BS in Mathematics from City College of New York and BA degrees in English and Philosophy from Fordham University, is a member of the IEEE.