NTT DoCoMo is distributing nine new NEC and Panasonic handsets that comply with the LiMo (Linux Mobile) Platform. Designed for its 46-million user Japanese HDSPA FOMA network, the phones all support up to 7.2Mbps downlinks, and most offer touchscreen, Bluetooth, and GPS. (more…)

Telefonica Espana will offer a pocket-sized, hacker-friendly, Linux WiFi/3G bridge/router to its customers, according to supplier Novatel Wireless. The MiFi 2352 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot connects up to five WiFi users to Telefonica's 3G HSPA network, which is capable of downstream data rates of 7.2Mbps. (more…)

Texas Instruments (TI) announced an MDP (mobile development platform) using its OMAP3430 system-on-chip (SoC). Available with a Linux BSP (board support package), the “Zoom OMAP34x-II” includes a 4.1-inch multi-touch display, eight megapixel camera, GPS, HDMI output, and a forthcoming pico projection module, says the company. (more…)

Malaysian embedded-device firm Gupp Technologies is readying a new version of its Linux-based, dual-mode (WiFi and GSM) “Phreedom” phone. The “Phreedom-Monday” offers improved VoIP quality, according to Trinity Convergence, which is supplying its VeriCall Edge VoIP/multimedia stack for use in the… (more…)

Tokyo-based Aplix Corp. announced a version of its Java Language Based Environment (JLBE) for the LiMo Platform. JBlend for LiMo enables developers to use existing developer toolkits and IDEs, such as Eclipse, to develop and deploy Java Micro Edition (ME) applications on LiMo (Linux Mobile) Platform phones, says the company. (more…)

Presentation slides, videos, and event write-ups have begun to surface from FOSDEM (the Free and Open Source Software Developers' European Meeting), which took place Feb. 7-8 in Brussels. The event attracted developers working on a wide variety of open source projects, including GNOME, Mozilla, Free Java, and of course, “Embedded.” (more…)

Access is demonstrating its Access Linux Platform (ALP) 3.0 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The new LiMo-compatible “advanced UI” mobile ALP stack leverages Open GL-ES 2.0 to offer 3D special effects, and introduces a standardized API that splits logic from presentation layers, says Access. (more…)

One of Linux's elder statesmen has published an essay about combining proprietary software with GPL-licensed software (such as the Linux kernel) in devices. Focusing on the specific example of mobile phones, Perens offers advice both about what to do and what not to do. (more…)

Vodafone and HTC announced the latter's second-generation, all-touchscreen Android phone. Scheduled to ship to Vodafone customers in Europe this spring, the Android Magic offers HDSPA 3G connectivity, and a slimer profile than the G1, lacking the earlier HTC Android phone's slide-out keyboard. (more…)

Nvidia has confirmed a long-rumored port of Google's Linux-based Android mobile stack to its Tegra series of ARM11-based mobile applications processors. Due in the second quarter, the Tegra port of Android marks the first official Linux support for the Tegra chips, which target smartphones and MIDs. (more…)

China-based telecommunications equipment manufacturer Huawei Technologies is showing its first Android-powered smartphone this week at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Due to ship in the third quarter, the phone is one of two or three Huawei Android models due that may ship this year, says an industry report. (more…)

The LiMo Foundation announced nine new LiMo (Linux Mobile) compliant handsets from NEC and Panasonic aimed at NTT DoCoMo's wireless network. The resurgent mobile phone consortium also announced six new members: Telefonica, Aromasoft, Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications, Marvell Semiconductor, Opera Software,… (more…)

Freescale Semiconductor is demonstrating an Ubuntu Linux-based netbook reference design based on its ARM Cortex A8-based i.MX515 system-on-chip (SoC). Additionally, Freescale announced Android and Xandros Linux ports to the chip, support from Phoenix Technogies's HyperSpace fast-boot technology, and support for… (more…)

After 22 months of “constant development,” the Debian project released version 5.0 (codenamed “Lenny”) on Valentine's Day. The release supports 12 processor architectures, a choice of four desktop environments, and broad standards compliance, the project said. (more…)

Finland-based embedded and mobile outsourcing house Sesca is demonstrating a mobile phone stack that runs on Linux and Symbian. Based on Nokia's open-source Qt application development framework, the “Ample” stack offers touchscreen support, a customizable GUI, and a reference implementation for Openmoko's… (more…)