Verizon Wireless to introduce Linux phones

NEW YORK - Verizon Wireless is backing a free operating system that competes with programs from Microsoft Corp.Google, . and Qualcomm. and expects it to become the "preferred" software on its network.

It's the first U.S. carrier to join the LiMo Foundation, which aims to unite handset makers, software companies and carriers on a software platform that will make it easier and cheaper to create a wide variety of phones.

The carrier's endorsement Wednesday is an important boost to the stature of LiMo, or Linux Mobile, and its prospects in the U.S. It already has the backing of large Asian and European carriers, as well as handset makers like Motorola Inc, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics.

"There is now no doubt that LiMo-powered devices will comprise a significant percentage of many operators' portfolios," said Stuart Carlaw, cell-phone industry analyst at ABI Research.

Kyle Malady, vice president of network for Verizon, said he expects the company to sell both simple and "smart" phones using LiMo next year. That's a potential blow to Qualcomm, which supplies the software for most of Verizon's phones, excluding smart phones.

"We expect that Linux Mobile will rapidly become our preferred operating system," Malady said. "As the development community looks at how best to bring new applications to the marketplace, they should check out LiMo and Linux Mobile first."

But the company is not adopting LiMo to the exclusion of other operating systems, he added — it now sells phones with a variety of operating systems, and expects to continue doing so.

Verizon Wireless is also in the process of opening up its network on a wholesale basis to any device that meets basic technical requirements, but Malady made clear that the backing of LiMo is separate from that initiative, and the company plans to sell LiMo devices under its own brand.

While Verizon Wireless expects the adoption of LiMo to speed development, the difference between it and current cell phone software may not be apparent to users. The software package does not include a user interface, so the look and feel of LiMo phones may be borrowed from current phones.

LiMo's software is based on Linux, a freely distributed operating system that's mainly used in server computers and in niches like TV set-top boxes, where Microsoft's dominant Windows system doesn't reach.

The foundation released the first version of its software package in March, and Motorola, Samsung, LG and Panasonic have showed off phones using it. Motorola also has older phones that use its own flavor of Linux.

While more than 90 percent of PCs run Windows, the market for cell-phone software is much more fragmented. Microsoft has its own software for "smart" phones. Symbian Ltd., whose main backer is Nokia, sells the competing Series 60 software. Verizon Wireless uses a system from Qualcomm Inc. for most of its phones. Apple Inc. created its own software for the iPhone. Google Inc. is backing an Open Handset Alliance that is creating yet another system, called Android. The first phones running that software are expected later this year.

"The mobile industry really was very reluctant to follow the path of the PC industry and cede the heart of the device to any single company," said Morgan Gillis, executive director of the London-based LiMo foundation. "This is really why Microsoft has not gained any significant traction with Windows Mobile, and also why Nokia has not been successful with Series 60 as an industry platform proposition."

To try to unite the industry, four major handset makers, plus overseas carriers Vodafone Group PLC and NTT DoCoMo, set up the LiMo Foundation last year as an organization that is not governed by any one company, making software that will be free for everyone to use.

Malady said Verizon Wireless chose to put more weight behind LiMo than Android because LiMo unites diverse industry participants in an inclusive governance structure and has software available already.

Also joining the LiMo Foundation on Wednesday were SK Telecom Co., the largest carrier in South Korea, and the Mozilla Corp., which puts out the popular Firefox Web browser. Like Linux, Firefox is maintained on an "open source" basis, where everyone has free access to the software's blueprints.

South Koreans Save on Paper with their Cell Phones

With all the talk of going green this year, South Koreans are using their cell phones to save on the use of small slips of paper that can mount up. Retailers are sending coupons, gift certificates, movie tickets and other such things to a customer’s mobile phone. The message sent to a customer has a picture of a barcode that can be scanned by the retailer.

“People can actually receive products from places just by showing their phones,” Ryu Mina, a spokeswoman with mobile service provider SK Telecom.

Sending barcodes to mobile phones isn’t new. Companies in South Korea started text messaging those cryptic numbers and bars about six year ago. Many people thought the messages were span and deleted them. But this technology has finally caught on with Koreans in their 20s and younger.

It is easy to misplace or forget a slip of paper, but for many of us the cell phone has become another appendage. The mobile barcode has a lot of potential for advertisers, retailers and customers, but hasn’t taken off anywhere. Maybe South Koreas can breathe some life into this idea for other countries.

Clearwire and Sprint Nextel to Create New Company

Clearwire and Sprint Nextel announced today that the two companies will collaborate to create a new telecommunications company with assets starting at $14.55 billion. The venture is to be called Clearwire and will receive a $3.2 billion investment from Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner and Bright House Networks.

Sprint Nextel will control 51% of shares in the new company. Existing Clearwire shareholders will control 27% of shares. Contributors to the $3.2 billion investment will receive the remaining shares.

“The agreement enables us to get to market faster and reach a broader audience than we could have if we went alone,” Dan Hesse, Sprint Nextel’s chief executive officer, told analysts during a conference call Wednesday.

Clearwire will focus on building a mobile network based on WiMax technology. WiMax has faster download speeds and better indoors coverage than most current service provider’s technology. Some also see WiMax as a competitor to fixed-line broadband.

Clearwire currently uses WiMax to provide wireless Internet service in some parts of the United States. In 2007, Clearwire had a subscriber base of nearly 400,000 broadband customers. The restructured company has the goal to develop a network that has the potential to reach 120 million to 140 million people by the end of 2010.

Service providers like AT&T and Verizon Wireless aren’t planning to use WiMax technology, Instead, there are upgrading current networks and working on future technology called Long Term Evolution.

10 TV Channels from AT&T

This Sunday, AT&T will launch a new video service that will allow select handsets carry 10 television channels for a fee of $15 a month. The service, called AT&T Mobile TV, is an attempt by the company to compete with Verizon Wireless’ V Cast Mobile TV.

AT&T has a mobile video service, CV, which works on a different principle than AT&T Mobile TV. Mobile TV, which uses Qualcomm’s MediaFLO technology, constantly streams shows so that they are more like regular broadcasts. The service will start in 58 markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.

At the start of the launch, only two handsets will be Mobile TV capable. The LG Vu, which sells for $299.99, and the Samsung Access, which sells for $199.99, are the first units that can run the application. A two year contract with a $100 mail-in rebate will get you one of these phones. In the future, other phones will be able to carry the new service.

AT&T Mobile TV will allow users to view CBS Mobile, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, Fox Mobile, MTV, NBC 2Go, NBC News 2Go, Nickelodeon, Sony Pictures and CNN Mobile Live.

Verizon isn’t telling how many people subscribe to its V Cast Mobile TV service. AT&T priced its TV service the same as Verizon’s but some are skeptical about the practicality of such an application. The consuming public may not be willing to pay $15 a month to watch television on the small screen.

Nokia Reveals Three New Handset Models

Nokia, the world’s biggest cell phone manufacturer, revealed three new handset models today. The new models were designed to compete in the very active market of mid-priced phones. This market is highly competitive.

Nokia will start shipping the new models in the third-quarter of this year. The new mid-priced phones include the Nokia 6600 Fold, the Nokia 6600 Slide and the Nokia 3600 Slide. These models will sell for between 175 euros ($273) and 275 euros, excluding taxes and subsidies.

Nokia controls around 39% of the world’s mobile phone market. The company has recently made great sales progress in emerging markets with sales of its low-priced phones.