Motorola MOTOMAGX Mobile Linux Platform

Sure, Motorola may be taking a beating from the likes of Samsung and LG when it comes to mobile sales, but that doesn't stop the big M from dropping news about its new MOTOMAGX Mobile Linux Platform. Calling it a significant step in its commitment to the mobile Linux platform, the MOTOMAGX is slated to be a next-gen platform that delivers a new level of openness and more importantly, support for 3rd party applications. Having sold more than 9 million Linux-based handsets, you have to admit they've been there and done that before.

Motorola even seeks to up its Linux-based handset portfolio to around 60% in the next few years - which is a big commitment indeed. The first products based on the platform include the now-available MOTOROKR Z6 and the RAZR2 V8 handsets. The MOTOMAGX platform will support content created by 3rd party developers - including applications developed in J2ME and, in upcoming releases, native Linux applications. Nokia/Symbian has taken a step forward in this direction with the introduction of the Open C SDK that allows easy porting of POSIX applications onto the Symbian platform, so it'll be good to see what Moto has up its sleeve.

If you are a developer waiting to get your hands dirty with Java ME development, get the MOTODEV Studio for Java ME form http://www.motorola.com/developer. At the end of Q4 2007, you will also get Linux and WebUI plugins for the Studio.