Nokia "definitely" preparing Linux-based phones, flavor unknown

by Chris Ziegler posted May 20th 2008 at 3:42PM

With Nokia's dedication to Maemo and the recent Trolltech acquisition, it's no secret that Espoo has its eyes firmly locked on the Linux prize -- but outside the whole Internet Tablet phenomenon, there hasn't been a lot of product to show for it. Looks like that's all about to change, with CFO Rick Simonson commenting this week that the company will "definitely" be releasing some Linux-based cellphones in the future, marking a pretty big move for a company with strong tradition in its long-lived Series 40 dumbphone and S60 smartphone platforms. Simonson refused to get into the nitty gritty details about what flavor of mobile Linux would be used; borrowing from its tablets might make sense, but the Android and LiMo juggernauts seem like they're going to be pretty hard to ignore as well -- not to mention that Google is said to have chatted briefly about Android with Nokia in the not-too-distant past. So what does this all mean? Is S60 Touch in danger here?

[Via Thumb Report]

Update: A closer look-see at Reuters' report (ignoring the misleading headline) indicates that Nokia has not specifically committed to rolling out Linux on phones -- rather, it has simply said that it intends to expand its use of Linux across its product portfolio. We figure that handsets are bound to get swept into the mix at some point, but technically, we could just be looking at other kinds of devices. Always room for another Internet Tablet or three, we suppose. Thanks, Eric!

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Tags: cellphone, linux, maemo, nokia, phone

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Engadgetluvsappl @ May 20th 2008 3:50PM

Fuck Linux. S60 4evarrrrrrr.

By the way, why is this on Engadget Classic and not Mobile? It is Nokia news, Chris...

Neutral

MW @ May 20th 2008 7:39PM

Watch your language fool, you'll poke someones eye out.

Neutral

Wonderkid @ May 20th 2008 3:53PM

Having just got a Nokia N95 8G Black and had a few days to use and play with it, I can say that Nokia have some good technology, but they need to learn a lot about usability - something Sony Ericsson have got right from day Each Nokia appears to work differently and lack the intelligently thought out usability features that SE include, such as highlighting phone numbers within text through to being able to increment numbers by pressing UP or DOWN on the joystick or D-Pad. Minor things? No. When rushing around using your device, you want to be able to get things done quickly. I find the interface on the N95 inconsistent and incomplete. Even the image browser is flawed. There is no way to make it go full screen instantly after the icons appear. You have to wait a few seconds. And the calendar item types are not thought through, and fail to sync properly with my Mac's iCal app. (Am not commenting on the iPhone as it's so sway ahead, it's in a different ball park.) So, if Nokia are going to try to compete with Apple or work with Android (promising) they need to do an un-Microsoft and come up with a Sony Ericsson like standard interface cross all their phones. It can be done!

Neutral

L @ May 20th 2008 4:12PM

SE's UIQ interface is a good example of how NOT to design UI's though...

Neutral

Engadgetluvsappl @ May 20th 2008 4:14PM

When I get a text message/email with a number in it, it's already underlined and I can then choose to dial/save/forward/copy&paste that number with from the options.

I don't know why you're praising the SE UI so much, though. I've hated it from day one and feel it to be horrible... It's something that I would have used when I was about 10. It's probably just a matter of opinion though as I've been using S60 for the past 3 years and feel it to be the best mobile OS available, with every new S60 device I got, I never once felt lost because the basic structure is always pretty much the same.

Neutral

Wonderkid @ May 20th 2008 6:40PM

My comments re SE referred to their NONE Symbian devices, such as the K800i that is a pleasure to navigate using it's joystick. Flick to the left or right while viewing a contact to quickly browse through their contact details and then click to send an SMS, an email or visit their website. My N95 does not work so smoothly. These little touches make everyday use a pleasure.

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jorvay @ May 20th 2008 3:54PM

Oh no! Not Linux! It won't be compatible with the OLPC!!!

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Abhishek @ May 20th 2008 5:08PM

I have the Nokia N95, the original one which I had shipped over from UK sometime last year. I wanted the iphone, but stuck with the N95 because of the 5MP camera, which would help me when I dj..so I wouldnt be stuck carrying an extra piece of equipment in my pocket ( a camera ).
I really like the S60 OS, but I think the Nokia tube ( which I believe will be the toushcreen phone from Nokia ), will have S70 OS.

Neutral

Justin @ May 20th 2008 5:03PM

Nokia is an aggressive company and its transition from Symbian to Linux has been a long time coming. Nokia was willing to participate in the development of Symbian in part to fend off Windows Mobile, but always insisted on owning its own UI (S60). It was a smart move, and allowed Nokia to own the user experience, if not the operating system underneath.

Once Nokia's share of Symbian was capped at 49% (even though de facto managerial control requires 70%), development of their own Linux-based platform began in earnest. Indeed, many development resources were pulled from the Series 90 (Nokia 7700/7710) programs and put toward the Maemo (Nokia 770) project to flesh out the platform. (Both devices were based on the TI OMAP 1510 architecture)

Nokia is increasingly exerting proprietary control over Maemo via closed development branches, which will accelerate after the Trolltech acquisition is complete. This is one of the reasons why multiple developers have left Nokia's Maemo development team, citing philosophical differences within the company.

You'll soon see the S60 UI evolve to run atop the Maemo platform in place of Symbian. At that point, Nokia will own the whole widget, which is exactly what they've always wanted.

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john @ May 20th 2008 5:26PM

GIMME!!

I want a E71 on T-Mobile-USA WCDMA, running Maemo with Android extensions, or running Android, that can tether (via Wifi or Bluetooth) to my other devices (MID, UMPC, Laptop, etc.).

Ideally, using a T-Mo-USA plan that combines the "Total Internet only" plan ($40/mo), Unlimited Messaging ($15/mo), and my choice of "Pay per day" or "Pay as you go" for voice. Then I'd be in pig heaven.

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