Linux Moving to the Handset
By Paxton Cooper
Linux is running as the underlying OS platform in millions of devices. It has
proven itself as a mainstream embedded technology and a robust platform for the
next-generation of multimedia intensive handsets.
Linux is traditionally viewed as a server or desktop operating system, but the
real success story for Linux may well be its adoption into the telecommunications
industry.
click to enlarge
Figure 1. The Mobilinux Platform |
Nearly all leading telecommunications equipment manufacturers are shipping or
planning to ship mobile infrastructure built around the open source operating
system. In addition, many of the leading phone manufacturers are developing and
shipping mobile phones powered by Linux. In fact, the announcement from telecommunications
heavyweights NTT DoCoMo, Vodafone, Motorola, NEC, Samsung and Panasonic that they
are planning to collaborate on a Linux platform for handsets is the most significant
affirmation to date of Linux as a viable platform for next generation mobile phones.
Technology Drivers
Fueled by increasingly powerful and efficient semiconductor products, today's
mobile devices are rapidly increasing in capability and complexity and thus, emerging
as the next client device. While various reasons exist for this increased interest
in Linux, two primary explanations top the list: 1) Advancement of Linux Technology
— Linux has evolved from the “will it work” to the “what is next” stage. It
has proven itself as a mainstream embedded technology and a robust platform for
the next generation of multimedia intensive handsets. 2) Differentiation Driven
Industry — Market commoditization is forcing phone manufacturers to dramatically
differentiate their offerings. Linux allows total customization of the phone software
and offers unrestricted innovation.
Linux Advancements
Today, Linux is running as the underlying OS platform in millions of devices.
In 2005, handset OEMs in the Asian marketplace shipped 10 to 15 million phones
with almost two dozen phone models based on Linux. Commercial vendors deliver
embedded Linux products to be used in diverse product categories by worldwide
technology product manufacturers. Fundamentally, the requirements of these types
of devices have been essential in driving the advancement of technology inside
the Linux operating system. These requirements come from devices such as remote
control devices, set top boxes, digital televisions, medical equipment, ATCA based
gateways in the telecommunications infrastructure, handsets and process control
systems.
As Linux was never designed for a specific application, commercial vendors need
to proactively develop vertical market specific capabilities to optimize it for
particular products and markets. This organic advancement of Linux technology
has been prepared as a platform for next generation mobile devices. Requirements
for smaller system size, power management, “hard real time,” and faster boot time
which are critical for mobile phones are also common to many mass-market consumer
electronic offerings. The evolution of Linux as a desirable platform for mobile
phones really began with its adaptation for the mass-market consumer electronics,
telecommunications and general embedded markets.
Mobile phones are rapidly evolving from voice only terminals to full multimedia
clients. And, as handsets have turned mainstream, the market has flooded with
competition. Manufacturers are competing on a feature basis and devices are becoming
increasingly complicated to build. The primary reason for software content on
these devices has exploded as manufacturers have added features such as graphics,
ring tones, text messaging, browsing, cameras, Bluetooth, multimedia capabilities,
etc. There has been an order of magnitude increase in the lines of application
related code as opposed to communications processing code.
The increase in software complexity has forced manufacturers to seek out more
robust software platforms that easily facilitate migration from voice focused
devices to much more multimedia intensive clients. Where hardware and voice complexities
with respect to network services was once the primary issue, complexities associated
with multimedia and end user applications are now the center of attention. Where
basic RTOSes (real-time OSes) were once sufficient for voice only phones with
limited data services, more horsepower is needed to accommodate today’s feature
phone and smart phone categories. An advanced, highly scalable Linux operating
system delivers this solution.
Expensive, low-volume smart phones typically utilize separate applications and
baseband processors and also include dedicated memory for each processor. Excess
semiconductor parts add cost to the design as well as increase power usage leading
to decreased battery life. To make matters worse, the dedicated baseband processor
typically adds a second operating system requirement, decreasing development efficiency
and adding cost to the project. These high-end devices typically feature an application-focused
operating system as well as a hardened RTOS to handle the extreme response-time
requirements of communicating between the protocol stack and the back-end infrastructure.
Failing to meet response-time requirements leads to dropped calls; a behavior
that is unacceptable to an operator whose customers will often blame the network
rather than the device.
Recent developments in the Linux community initiated by MontaVista Software and
others have resulted in dramatically improved response time. These improvements
have enabled optimized versions of the platform to meet the hard real-time requirements
of baseband processing while also delivering rich application, gaming and multimedia
capabilities on a single processor. Using Linux in so-called “single chipset”
design allows handset manufacturers to deliver high-end functionality at significantly
reduced prices.
Differentiation is the Key
Preferring to remain unfettered to restrictive proprietary software vendors, many
larger handset manufacturers have turned to Linux, though not for the reasons
one might think. While many assume the adoption of Linux was driven by a desire
to reduce bill of materials cost, the most legacy operating systems used in the
mobile market were already royalty free. Because Linux is not controlled by any
one vendor and because developers have access to all source code, device manufacturers
retain full control over their platform architecture and development schedules.
This approach also provides manufacturers with greater control over the phone’s
presentation and functionality, enabling the creation of truly differentiated
products.
Unlike competing mobile operating systems, handset manufacturers are leveraging
Linux as a common platform across a broad percentage of their portfolio. Because
it’s easy to program and customize the Linux platform, handset manufacturers can
quickly spin out new models with the latest technology and address the latest
market trends. For example, Motorola has reportedly stated on multiple occasions
that they expect Linux to be used across the majority of their portfolio, with
other operating systems being used primarily in point devices. NTT DoCoMo, along
with suppliers NEC and Panasonic have announced similar positions. Most recently,
Panasonic announced intentions to discontinue development of second generation
GSM (Global System for Mobile Phones) devices and focus exclusively on 3G (third
generation) Linux-based handsets.
Given highly fragmented market requirements, the ability to address a variety
of customers by making small modifications or extensions to a common platform
can reduce many of the challenges facing handset manufacturers today.
As the handset market matures, mobile phone manufacturers are looking to dramatically
differentiate their offerings. Commoditization is forcing the need for constant
innovation in order to maintain a high ASP (average selling price) and high margin
per handset. Innovative form factors, multimedia capabilities, and unique branded
interfaces are just a few of the tactics manufacturers will take to set their
offering apart. The challenge is that traditional proprietary operating system
platforms stifle differentiation and make it costly and difficult to deliver an
innovative product. These platforms are incredibly rigid, defined and do not permit
the flexibility to modify the phone presentation.
With Linux, manufacturers see the opportunity to directly influence the software
platform and achieve the degree of control they believe is necessary to continue
growing their business. Linux provides manufacturers with a malleable, open platform
that can be tailored to meet standards and specifications for avoiding fragmentation
while simultaneously providing customization. Other proprietary platforms offer
little or no ability to drive differentiation, leading to commoditization and
fragmentation. Linux is extremely scalable and can be used to build different
types of mobile phones for different market segments.
Handset manufactures want to control the destiny of their business rather than
depend on the goals of a third party. Linux provides this control as well as the
freedom to create requested and popular end-products.
By using Linux in devices, mobile handset manufacturers can deliver unique, branded
experiences to their users while addressing operator specifications and reducing
overall development and certification costs. For this reason, many of the top
handset manufacturers are beginning to view Linux as a universal solution that
can be leveraged across a broad range of devices.
The adoption of Linux into the telecommunications industry is evidence of the
operating system’s growing popularity among equipment manufacturers. But this
adoption should come as no surprise. Linux has proven to be a mainstream technology
with its flexible features and innovative capabilities. With open source, manufacturers
are able to support their company’s future and dramatically differentiate their
offerings. Only Linux can offer total customization and unlimited innovation.
About the Author
Paxton Cooper is director of product marketing, Mobile and Wireless, for MontaVista
Software Inc. Paxton has over 10 years of experience in software product marketing
across the mobile and wireless, enterprise and consumer markets.
MontaVista Software
2929 Patrick Henry Drive
Santa Clara, CA, 95054
© 2008 Advantage Business Media
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