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:
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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.
References:
Mac OS X vs Linux: Third Party Software and Security
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/RDM.Tech.Q1.07/6486A692-BA0F-4B74-B0F2-D0B895EF6469.html
Linux-based Motorola cell phones frustrate third-party developers: http://www.linux.com/articles/51801?tid=98&theme=print