LIPS forum has just published the first release of their Linux standard for mobile phones. LIPS forum members include Orange, France Telecom and Montavista, among others. This release includes the following specs
- LiPS Reference Model
- Telephony
- Messaging
- Calendaring and Scheduling
- Presence
- User Interface Services
- Address Book
- Voice Call
LIPS, Open Handset Alliance and LIMO are three organizations working with the goal of standardizing mobile Linux to avoid fragmentation. As LIPS Forum mentions in the press release “In contrast to recent announcements from other bodies promoting Linux-based mobile software, LiPS output targets interoperability through real open standards and specifications, not de facto acceptance of single platform implementation.” LIPS and LIMO share a similar vision consisting of the creation of a common interface shared by different Linux implementations in order to gain interoperability and application compatibility.
Several thoughts come into my mind. First of all, we have at least three organizations trying to reduce Linux fragmentation. Doens’t it provoke more fragmentation? Moreover, LIMO and LIPS are working in a very similar way. So, Why don’t they work together in a single specification?
Finally, any specification needs a reference implementation and subsequent commercial products implementing it in order to succed. If LIPS forum specs are not implemented in real products, they will be surely forgotten. Oh, none of the biggest Hardware manufacturers is a LIPS Forum member. Significant and risky.
Link LIPS Forum
