Linux appears to be gaining ground as a mobile telephone real-time operating system (RTOS) according to a report by ABI Research. The study projects that by 2012, more than 127 million mobile devices will be enabled with a commercial Linux operating system (OS) compared to 8.1 million in 2007. Additionally, device shipments that incorporate Linux as an RTOS replacement are set to grow to more than 76 million units in 2012, up from nearly zero in 2007. The report, "Mobile Linux: Bringing License-Free Operating Systems to Smartphones and Mid-Tier Devices," that growing collaboration between industry initiatives, and the introduction of complete solutions such as the Trolltech-led GreenSuite, and ALP from ACCESS will contribute to the growth of the Linux OS for mobile devices. But the industry still needs to understand the total cost of ownership for Linux solutions. The report indicates that significant barriers still exist and must be addressed before Linux emerges as a major OS for mobile devices.

ABI Research