LiMo Platform Release 1 gets loosed, R2 to come later this year

by Darren Murph posted Mar 31st 2008 at 3:14PM

Don't look now, but mid-2008 is almost here, and for those waiting intently for the release of a LiMo SDK, you're one step closer to having your dreams realized. Announced today, the LiMo Foundation has made available what it calls the "first globally competitive, Linux-based software platform for mobile devices." According to Morgan Gillis, executive director of LiMo Foundation, the consortium is hoping that R1 will "spur rapid innovation and contributions from all LiMo members," and it's restated that software development kits for Native, WebKit and Java operating environments are set to launch during the second half of this year. Not one to sit idly, the entity has also announced that Release 2 is currently "being specified and developed," and should escape testing and greet the real world in late 2008.

[Via PhoneScoop]

Filed under: Cellphones

Tags: limo, LiMo Foundation, LimoFoundation, linux, open source, open-source, OpenSource, release, sdk

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phanbouy @ Mar 31st 2008 4:11PM

bueller?

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Mark @ Mar 31st 2008 4:43PM

no one cares.

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OneLove @ Mar 31st 2008 5:25PM

Is this a group for chauffeurs?

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phanbouy @ Mar 31st 2008 4:57PM

lmao@limo

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bcollinstex @ Mar 31st 2008 5:14PM

Horrible title.

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Marc @ Mar 31st 2008 5:18PM

none of you can write a comment correctly. Let me show you: that was a cool artical i enjoyed it alot

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Frank Daley @ Mar 31st 2008 6:29PM

Manufacturers who have already released handsets using the LiMo Foundation software stack include Samsung, Motorola, NEC, Panasonic and LG.

Perhaps your the Motorola RAZR handset you use is already one of those based on LiMo stack?

http://www.limofoundation.org/press-releases/limo-press-releases/limo-foundation-unveils-first-limo-handsets.html

Neutral

juanfe @ Apr 1st 2008 10:52AM

I wouldn't hold my breath on a Linux-based SDK for LiMo phones. The LiMo foundation's charter does not force anyone to actually provide a Linux SDK, or to even make it easy to dig into the kernel. The manufacturers involved in LiMo have a history of not wanting third parties to dig into the core OS.

Example:
Motorola's Chief Architect of Mobile devices Mark VandenBrink: third party application development on Motorola’s Linux phones is limited to the phones’ Java VM environment, "due to carrier concerns about network health, security, and interoperability."

The terms for LiMo also don't compel them to open source any extensions written on top of the core kernel; their constraints are only to the GPL, and even then, they'll be very cautious to not include anything really nifty in the code they're forced to open source.

Even then, those who have tried to get the code under the GPL have found themselves challenged by the mega bureaucracies:

Linux-based Motorola cell phones frustrate third-party developers.

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