|
a la Mobile Unveils the First Complete Linux System Platform for Mobile Phones
Open and Configurable "Convergent Linux Platform" Dramatically Accelerates Linux Smartphone Development and Deployment
SAN RAMON, Calif., June 19, 2006 — a la Mobile, Inc., (www.a-la-mobile.com) the industry's only independent Linux systems platform company for mobile phones, today announced the launching of its Convergent Linux Platform, the first viable mobile operating system alternative to proprietary offerings.
Designed to be readily adaptable to wireless handsets, Convergent Linux Platform enables handset manufacturers to bring Linux-based smartphones to market rapidly while drastically reducing development, testing and deployment costs. Convergent Linux Platform is not just a kernel, middleware or applications but a complete software stack for mobile handsets: integrated; tested; certified; supported; and maintained.
a la Mobile was founded with the firm belief that the industry is ready to embrace Linux as the strategic operating system for mobile phones.
"The desire for an open and non-proprietary operating system for mobile handsets is well recognized," said Bill Hughes, Principle Analyst at In-Stat, a global market research and analysis company. "Linux is poised to become the primary mobile operating system that is not proprietary. The availability of a la Mobile's Linux offering could bridge a key gap for the wireless industry."
Convergent Linux is the only complete platform for mobile phones that remains open and scalable. The configurable architecture of Convergent Linux provides handset manufacturers the freedom to select software components and functionality and enables complete customization of look-and-feel of the device to suit varying enterprise and consumer requirements. This level of customization makes Convergent Linux unique in the market.
"Up to now, mobile operating systems have all been proprietary in nature restricting freedom for customization," said Pauline Lo Alker, President and CEO of a la Mobile. "In a high growth and high stakes environment, competitive differentiation and ease of delivering customized services are paramount for both handset vendors and network operators."
At the heart of a la Mobile's Convergent Linux Platform are two patent-pending Software Mobility Engines:
 |
The Hardware Mobility Engine™ (HME) enables a tested software suite in binary form (operating system and applications) to move across different hardware platforms without porting or diminishing performance.
With the HME, handset manufacturers can quickly develop a family of handsets by utilizing the same underlying binary software stack for all models. This not only drastically accelerates time-to-market; it also ensures complete software compatibility and interoperability across the entire product line.
While HME is a core component of a la Mobile's Convergent Linux Platform, the HME itself is operating-system neutral. The HME abstractions technology makes it possible for handset manufacturers to support Linux as well as other operating systems on the same mobile phone hardware platform. |
| |
|
The Network Mobility Engine™ (NME) provides a policy-based framework for seamless handover of IP-based services (voice, data and video) between network transports without requiring any modification in the network infrastructure or the IP applications.
The NME framework, based on a la Mobile's patent-pending Multi-Mode IP™ technology, gives a network operator the flexibility to deliver IP services based on a pre-defined set of policies, such as available network service, best costs, or application bandwidth requirements. It also allows for automatic selection of appropriate network transport when service is acquired or lost. |
In addition to a la Mobile's HME and NME, Version 1.0 of Convergent Linux Platform is integrated with a rich collection of software from third-party and open-source partners, including: Linux Kernel 2.6, GSM/GPRS solution from HelloSoft, firmware over the air (FOTA) solution from Red Bend, Qtopia application framework and UI from Trolltech, Browser, Messenger and multimedia framework from Obigo AB, Flash, and incorporated with Java (TM) ME.
Version 1.0 of Convergent Linux Platform will be available for handset manufacturer customers in September 2006.
As the industry's only open Linux systems platform company for mobile phones, a la Mobile assumes a fresh and uncompromised business posture of independence, neutrality and completeness:
|
Focuses only on Linux system platform for mobile phones |
|
Embraces industry standards |
|
Unbiased and unencumbered by legacy businesses and products |
|
"One stop" service — integration, customization, certification, maintenance and migration. |
"Desire for a trusted alternative to proprietary mobile operating systems is perhaps the handset industry's worst-kept secret. Our Convergent Linux Platform is the first solution to actualize this desire, ending the proprietary chokehold on handset innovation," Pauline Lo Alker continued. "Our goal is to help accelerate Linux-based phones time-to-market while contributing to the overall cause of the broader Linux and open-source community."
a la Mobile is a strong supporter of various Linux and Open Source standards committees: LiPS (Linux Phone Standards Forum), MLI (Mobile Phone Initiative) of OSDL, and CELF (Consumer Electronics Linux Forum). The open and neutral architecture of Convergent Linux Platform enables it to be ever-ready and able to adopt all leading industry standards.
"To date, Linux has successfully garnered dozens of Smartphone design wins, with unit shipments quadrupling year over year. OSDL sees the emergence of rich Linux handset platforms like the a la Mobile offering as key to consolidating these gains. We welcome a la Mobile to OSDL/MLI and as a unifying force in this dynamic marketplace."
Open Source Development Labs
Bill Weinberg
Senior Technology Analyst
"With the availability of a complete Linux system stack such as a la Mobile's offering, Linux is ripe to become the mobile operating system alternative to current proprietary offerings."
SK Telecom
Hoo Jong Kim
Head of Mobile Device Development Team
"a la Mobile is positioning itself as the 'Red Hat' for wireless handsets."
Sprint Nextel
Ahmed Bencheikh
Director, Technology Architecture
"a la Mobile's announcement represents an important step forward in the maturity of Linux as an open alternative to the existing and proprietary smartphone operating systems."
Telefónica móviles
Jose Leandro Mateos
Open O.S. Devices / Handsets & Smart Cards
"As a mobile phone Linux platform provider, a la Mobile is uniquely focused on supporting customer needs for product differentiation and quickly getting products to market."
Newgen Telecom Co., Ltd
Y.B. Cho
VP & COO
"a la Mobile's Convergent Linux Platform announcement further strengthens Linux as a displacing force in mobile phones. With Qtopia as the application framework and user interface, handset manufacturers can now create the next generation of mobile phones that are customized and can get them to market quickly and more cost-effectively."
Trolltech
Benoit Schillings
CTO
"Teleca is pleased to have a la Mobile as a partner. With the Obigo Application Suite integrated into a la Mobile's Convergent Linux System Platform, we see a very strong multi-dimensional Linux offering which can ensure a successful Linux business for ODM/OEMs and operators."
Teleca AB
Stefan Fleron
Senior Vice President, Global Marketing and Sales
"For Linux to become viable as an alternative operating system for mobile phones, it requires an independent company like a la Mobile to assume the role of a central distribution and support entity."
HelloSoft
Krishna Yarlagadda
Founder, President & CEO
"A Linux-based mobile operating system such as that from a la Mobile clearly meets an emerging need in the wireless industry. Red Bend has already demonstrated its firmware over the air (FOTA) solution operating effectively in a Linux environment and we will certainly be supporting a la Mobile's offering."
Red Bend Software
Yoram Salinger
CEO
"The desire for an open and non-proprietary operating system for mobile handsets is well recognized. Linux is poised to become the primary mobile operating system that is not proprietary. The availability of a la Mobile's Linux offering could bridge a key gap for the wireless industry."
In-Stat
Bill Hughes
Principle Analyst
a la Mobile, Inc. (www.a-la-mobile.com) is the premier open Linux system platform and open source technology provider to the mobile industry. Led by President and CEO Pauline Lo Alker, a serial high-tech entrepreneur with multiple success track records, the company's veteran executive management team includes David Rivas, CTO (former CTO of Consumer Software Business Unit (J2ME) at Sun Microsystems, and Francis Yu, SVP Engineering (former VP of Device Product Group at Openwave Systems.) Founded in 2005, a la Mobile is backed by Venrock Associates, a top-tier venture capital firm in the U.S. with offices in Menlo Park, Boston and New York.
^ Return to top | ^ Return to Press Releases
| 
