A recent article entitled “Breakaway of Telecom PDA Service from Microsoft Speeding Up” published by the Korean Electronic Times (May 6, 2002) is said to report that several major Korean wireless telecom service providers are moving away from Microsoft OSes and to Linux (and Palm OS) as their strategic platforms. Quoting from an English translation of the article provided by Mizi Research Inc. . . .

Communication service operators are [moving to] Linux and Palm [and away] from Microsoft's . . . Pocket PC and Windows CE for mobile PDA business strategy, clearly breaking away from Microsoft. It [will be] interesting to see whether this shift in business strategy of communication service providers will put a brake on Microsoft dominating PDA operating systems.

Such [a] move is [occurring] because, in the case of Pocket PC, it is very difficult to mount other browsers or software or add particular function buttons since Microsoft [has] already preset requirements of almost all software and hardware and any change has to go through [an] approval process of Microsoft.

SK Telecom, the most prominent PDA service provider among domestic communication operators, decided to open door to Palm and Linux-based products in the 2nd half of this year in addition to Pocket PC operating system-based 'IPAQ'.

. . . Samsung Electronics . . . is contacting domestic Linux developing PDA developers and Linux operating system developers to adopt Linux PDA.

. . . SK Telecom is reportedly considering strong support measures of assisting Linux PDA operating system standardization and application development through alliance with partners to promote Linux PDA.

KTF, which [previously produced] only Windows CE and Pocket PC-based PDA, decided to adopt Palm and Linux PDA in the 2nd half of this year . . .

. . . Korea Telecom is also reviewing plans to open [the] door to Linux products and embrace low-resolution PDA for [its] Nespot PDA service. KT announced its plan to collaborate with Linux companies to support Linux PDA, although [the] Nespot PDA pilot service will be provided for Pocket PC or Windows CE-based PDA.

 
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