As we announced last Monday, we have visited Mobile World Congress 2008, and the feelings have been very satisfactory!!! Our expectations for the event have been completely fulfilled.
I was specially interested in one thing: Linux devices. Specially in the longly awaited LiMo foundation devices. Android was also there, but you’ll find more information about it in other post.
LiMo foundation announced last week their plans to launch first devices next Spring. I thought that the announcement promised something impossible to achieve, but then Azingo announced the first LiMo complaint software platform. Things were moving.
And yesterday we were able to touch the first device running this new operating system. And It wasn’t easy!!! LiMo foundation had a small stand inside Panasonic’s stand. Among several NTT DoCoMo devices and a LG mock-up (a strange device running a rolling-demo) we discovered a device presented by Azingo and Broadcom. The brand in the device is Broadcom, and the software has been provided by Azingo.
We were talking to Azingo program Manager, Mr. Abhijit Gupta. He declared the device is planned to be launched next Spring in Asian market. Unfortunately, Europe and USA will not see this device yet.
Also yesterday, LiMo foundation announced the first round of complaint devices with LiMo specifications. Here is the list.
- MOTO U9, MOTO Z6w, MOTOROKR Z6, RAZR2 V8, RAZR2 V8 Luxury Edition and MOTOROKR E8 from Motorola;
- NTT DoCoMo FOMA N905i, FOMA N905iμ, FOMA N705i and FOMA N705iμ from NEC;
- NTT DoCoMo FOMA P905i, FOMA P905iTV, FOMA P705i and FOMA P705iμ from Panasonic Mobile Communications, and
- SGH-i800 from Samsung.
Also three reference devices where announced:
- LG LiMo Phone from LG Electronics,
- OPAL(m) from Aplix and
- Purple Magic from Purple Labs.
Along with the device announcements, LiMo foundation also announced that new members are joining the Foundation: These are the names:
- ACCESS CO., LTD
- AMD
- FueTrek
- Open-Plug
- Orange
- Renesas Technology Corp
- Samsung SDS
- SoftBank
- STMicroelectronics
The number of members are growing very quickly. It looks like we are going to see a tough fight between LiMo and Android. The winner? Surely you and me, final users of the technology!!!
