Linux-Based Platform Being Developed by Mozilla, Samsung, and More

And so the battle for mobile platform supremacy continues. The latest contingent is developing a Linux-based platform for ARM processors, serving as the “foundation for cell phones, media players, and other pocket devices.” Among the companies involved are Marvell, Samsung, and Texas Instruments, as well as our good friend Mozilla. You may recognize the latter from its development of Firefox, Thunderbird, and other free software programs.

It makes sense that they would enlist the help of a firm like Mozilla, because they seem to believe in open source development, much like the people who are backing Linux. The idea is to develop a “common base that would use the open-source nature of Linux, the Gnome Mobile user interface, and Mozilla’s Firefox browser.” Extra Internet and media features could be added to handhelds quickly and easily.

They’ve already begun work on the new platform and it’s expected to be ready as soon as early 2008. It won’t be until early 2009 that hardware will actually rock the platform, though.