Nikkei Business Publications Asia reported today that NEC will use an embedded Linux operating system in its new 3G handsets. Nikkei quotes Akira Yoshimoto, assistant general manager for NEC's mobile terminal business unit, as saying the the new mobile phone OS will be based on MontaVista Linux.

Earlier this year, when MontaVista launched the Consumer Electronics Edition of MontaVista Linux, Seiji Mitsuoka, general manager of NEC's Mobile Terminals Software Development Division, said that “as the wireless industry migrates from simple voice-only phones to data-enabled browser phones that combine communications, mobile Internet access and computing power, [NEC is] relying on MontaVista to help us deliver Linux-based mobile phones to global markets,” with “multi-media capabilities that provide a compelling experience for mobile users.”

This is not the first high profile mobile phone design win for Linux — or for MontaVista. Earlier this year, the company announced that Motorola had selected MontaVista Linux for its new Linux-based A760 handsets.

The Nikkei story can be found here.

 
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