Java virtual machine (JVM) specialist Aplix has licensed the Linux-based mobile phone software stack co-developed by NEC, Panasonic, and NTT DoCoMo. The company plans to offer reference implementations (RIs) based on the stack to handset manufacturers wishing to create handsets for use with NTT DoCoMo's 3G FOMA network in Japan, it says.

Aplix first announced plans to market operator-specific RIs in May, saying the RIs would help handset makers comply with carrier requirements.

The Aplix RI for NTT DoCoMo's network will be based on MOAP(L) (mobile-oriented application platform), a Linux stack co-developed by NEC, Panasonic, and NTT DoCoMo. Aplix says its MOAP(L) license allows it to develop software on top of MOAP(L), and also to sublicense the stack to handset manufacturers.

MOAP(L) is based on a 2.4-series MontaVista kernel, and includes basic mobile phone functionality on top of which handset vendors can quickly build differentiating features, the companies claim. MOAP(L) ranks among the most successful Linux mobile phone OSes, in terms of both shipments and design wins. It has powered three generations of NEC N90x and Panasonic P90x phones, heavy sales of which helped Linux surpass Windows Mobile in shipments in mid-2005, according to Gartner.

Aplix says its MOAP(L)-based RI will integrate its own middleware framework, as well as middleware and software from various partners.

Kiyohito Nagata, managing director of product development at NTT DoCoMo, said, “We expect that integration of Aplix's middleware framework over MOAP(L) will easily enhance further functionality of mobile phones.”

Shunichiro Tejima, EGM of mobile terminals at NEC stated, “We have been promoting Linux-based platform for mobile phones and building up the ecosysystem. By this license agreement, we are confident that their new integrated solution would help accelerate this system.”

Osamu Waki, managing director at Panasonic Mobile, added, “We think the integration of MOAP(L) and the Aplix middleware framework will lead to the development of solutions that will give added impetus to the development of Linux-based mobile phones.”

Aplix Chairman Ryu Koriyama stated, “[The MOAP(L) license] will allow greater efficiency in the development process of highly sophisticated mobile phones.”

NEC and Panasonic last month jointly formed Esteemo, a startup tasked with creating a common hardware and software platform for mobile handsets.

Aplix, meanwhile, last month debuted patent pending user-space virtualization technology said to dynamically generate virtual execution spaces for native applications running on handheld and mobile devices. The company is best known for its JBlend Java virtual machine, which is used in NEC/Panasonic Linux phones.

Availability

Availability of Aplix's MOAP(L)-based RI was not disclosed.

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.