More details have emerged on the Motorola A768, a Linux-powered smartphone targeting enterprise customers now shipping in China. The A768 is essentially a revision of Motorola's first Linux-based smartphone, the A760, with… new VPN, video, and other capabilities.

(Click for larger view of open Motorola A768)

We first reported on the A768 last week, when it became available in China.

Unlike the earlier Motorola A-760, which launched last fall, the A768 (Click images for larger views) includes full video services capabilities such as video capturing, playback, and download through GPRS/CSD.

The A768 also provides VPN support for access to corporate data, a PDA, Web brower, Email, MMS, SMS, and viewers for PDFs and various Microsoft Office file formats. Its phone software uses the GSM protocol. Like the earlier A760, the A768 is based on MontaVista Linux.

“We launched A760 in China last fall and are able to now follow up quickly with the A768,” said Samuel Li, director, Product Line Management, GSM High Tier Smartphone Product Group, Motorola Personal Communications Sector.

In their recently published research report “Defining the Market for Full-Featured Handsets,” the Zelos Group stated: “While Symbian will be the market share leader in the next 24 to 36 months, Linux will threaten for long-term dominance. Linux leads other platforms in openness and low cost ­ factors that are essentials to success in a market defined by tight margins, rapid innovation, and standards adherence.”

“Handset manufacturers, such as Motorola, are turning to the fast emerging mobile Linux OS as a platform for phone development because of the flexibility, control, and innovation offered by open source software,” commented MontaVista CEO Jim Ready.

 
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.