Although it has already been widely reported that Motorola's new A760 mobile phone uses MontaVista Linux as its embedded operating system, Motorola and MontaVista used the occasion of the… CTIA conference taking place this week in New Orleans, LA to show off the phone (in Motorola's CTIA booth) and to disclose further details of the A760's embedded Linux support in a joint public announcement. Here's the full text of today's announcement, which, among other things, includes some interesting data regarding the embedded operating system software market from market researcher, IDC.

For the full picture on the A760, be sure to read LinuxDevices.com's Special report on the Linux-powered Motorola A760.

New Orleans — March 19, 2003 — MontaVista Software, Inc., the company powering the embedded revolution, today announced that MontaVista Linux is the chosen operating system for the recently announced Motorola A760 mobile phone, the world's first handset based on Linux and Java technology.

The Motorola A760 combines features of a mobile phone with the capabilities of a personal digital assistant (PDA), digital camera, video player, MP3 player, speakerphone, advanced messaging, instant Internet access and Bluetooth wireless technology. The A760 is Motorola's first handset demonstrating the company's commitment to making the Linux operating system a key pillar of its handset software strategy. Motorola is displaying this phone in its booth (# 4245) at the CTIA Wireless Conference this week in New Orleans.

“This handset is special because it features one of the most open and flexible software platforms,” said Terence Lam, senior global marketing manager, Smartphone and Networked Entertainment Products, Motorola Personal Communications Sector. “By supporting the open source Linux OS along with Java technology, Motorola is providing the most creative and fertile environment possible to set the stage for a 'best experiences win' environment.”

MontaVista recently announced the MontaVista Linux Consumer Electronics Edition (CEE), the first commercial Linux operating system and cross-development environment specifically designed for consumer electronics devices, including mobile phones, high definition digital television, set-top boxes and automotive telematics. CEE enhances Linux with dynamic power management, rich consumer-focused networking support and consumer-grade reliability, while supporting XIP (eXecute In Place) of the kernel and applications as well as streaming media optimizations. Hundreds of products are already in development using MontaVista Linux, including mobile phones, PDAs, advanced remote controls, high definition televisions, HDTV, PVRs, set-top boxes, digital receivers, automotive telematics, musical instruments, gaming machines and karaoke systems. Recently, Sony and NEC released new consumer products built on MontaVista Linux. Several leading manufacturers are also currently building next generation mobile phones based on MontaVista Linux.

“As mobile phones rapidly evolve, the supporting software needs to be more robust to support their rich functionality and networking capabilities. MontaVista Linux provides a powerful systems software platform that can help to quickly bring these advanced products to market,” said Jim Ready, CEO and president, MontaVista Software. “By standardizing on Linux for its handset software strategy, Motorola is blazing a trail into this new world of advanced consumer electronics, and we are proud to support this trend.”

MontaVista Linux supports a range of enhanced interactive features in advanced consumer electronics products such as the Motorola A760, by providing high performance, real-time capability and consumer-grade reliability. By offering a standard development platform for embedded designs, MontaVista allows developers to focus on their value-add to their customers while enabling them to speed cutting-edge products to market in a cost-effective manner.

According to an IDC report (document 28470), the Embedded Operating System Environment market will reach $1.4 billion by 2006, a combined annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.6 percent. Further, IDC report (report #27653), Worldwide Mobile and Embedded Operating Environment Market Forecast and Analysis, 2002-2006, also listed MontaVista Software as one of the fastest growing vendors in this area.

For more information on the phone, an A760 fact sheet is available here.

 
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