First Linux-powered UMTS 3G mobile arrives

The world's first UMTS/Edge smartphone reference design based on the Linux operating system has been unveiled.

Developed by a group of companies including Samsung Electronics and Infineon Technologies, the platform is designed to incorporate advanced 3G and multimedia services such as UMTS/Edge dual mode voice calls, video calls and video streaming.

It also supports high performance multimedia applications (H.264, MPEG-4, AAC+, MP3), ultra-fast web browsing, stereo loudspeaker with 3D audio and Java-based 3D gaming.

The slider case-based hardware design includes Samsung's S3C24A0 application processor and camera module, and Infineon's MP-U UMTS/Edge modem platform.

"According to a ZelosGroup report, Linux will secure a significant share of the feature and smartphone segment market in the next design cycle, especially due to its openness and low cost advantages," said Professor Dr Hermann Eul, executive vice president and general manager at Infineon's Communication Business Group.

The software platform is a pre-integrated design consisting of Infineon's UMTS/Edge dual-mode protocol stack, Samsung's Linux kernel and drivers certified by Montavista, Trolltech's Qtopia software platform for Linux-based mobiles and Emuzed's audio and video applications.