When Google released their Chrome web browser, it took the world by surprise but seemed like the logical next step for the mega company. Well, it looks like they are expanding past a web browser and even past their mobile Android OS with the introduction of Google Chrome OS.

This will be a full fledged open source operating system built from the ground up. Its focus will be on speed, security and simplicity much like the Google Chrome web browser and Android OS.

Google says that they are working on making netbooks running Google Chrome OS for availability sometime in 2010. Your move Apple and Microsoft.

Read (Google)

Tags: Chrome, Desktop PCs, Google, Google, Laptops, netbooks, open source, operating system, software

Nokia and Intel have announced a partnership and we can expect this duo to launch the next generation of mobile devices. What does this mean exactly? Are we to expect new Nokia-Intel smartphones soon? What about netbooks and laptops? We already know Nokia is interested in making laptops too so a partnership with Intel would definitely be welcomed.

The collaboration will be focusing on open source mobile Linux software projects like Moblin and Maemo. Combine Nokia’s wireless technology with Intel’s mobile chip technology and we should definitely expect some hot products to come along and we’ll be waiting.

via Intel

Tags: Intel, Linux, Maemo, Mobile News, Moblin, Noki, Nokia, open source, Portable Devices

Mobile consulting and solutions firm, openWAiR LLC, announced that it has reached a Partner Agreement with Siruna, the Open Source Mobile Solutions Company, for license distribution rights throughout South and North  America. “The missing element in websites today is mobile friendliness”, said John Lynch, openWAiR Founder, “leveraging the Siruna mobile-friendly solutions, our clients will realize significant Return On Investment and Time Savings as their websites are migrated to a Mobile Environment.”

The Siruna platform allows website developers and publishers with limited resources to offer mobile web applications and mobile sites to hundreds of different mobile devices from WAP to complete mobile browsers. Website publishers can now supply a seamless mobile user experience, while saving development time by using their platform detection and content delivery system. This product compliments the openWAiR portfolio of product solutions by mixing and maximizing the flexibility of both mobile and open source devices.

Tags: Business, consulting, mobile, open source, openWAiR LLC, Siruna, website

The mobile market is just about to get hotter than it already is. A new open source project has just been launched today by Intel and Nokia. The oFono project will apparently be a Linux-based OS meant to compete against Android. Considering the names behind it we should assume that oFono will have a bright future.

The new OS will be used in various smartphones and mobile devices. It will be able to connect to GSM/UMTS networks, it will make calls, access the SIM card and it will have support for various mobile apps. We are really anxious to see a phone running on this new OS but we have no idea when that’s going to happen.

Here’s what the first blog post says about oFono:

Intel and Nokia are pleased to jointly announce the oFono project, an open source project for developing an open source telephony solution.

oFono.org is a place to bring developers together around designing an infrastructure for building mobile telephony (GSM/UMTS) applications.…

oFono is licensed under GPLv2, and it includes a high-level D-Bus API for use by telephony applications of any license. oFono also includes a low-level plug-in API for integrating with Open Source as well as third party telephony stacks, cellular modems and storage back-ends. The plug-in API functionality is modeled on public standards, in particular 3GPP TS 27.007 “AT command set for User Equipment (UE).”

Nokia and Intel will jointly maintain the oFono project. We’d like to invite all developers to join the ofono.org effort and community.

Anyone excited about the new OS?

Tags: Android, Intel, Mobile News, Mobile Software, Nokia, Nokia, oFono, open source, OS, Other Brands

The device in the picture is a Mozilla open source smartphone. Or at least a prototype. Did Mozilla realize that the mobile market is up for grabs? Will it succeed with such a project? Anyone that wants to contribute to the project is welcome to share their thoughts on the new blog Billy May from Yanko Design has launched for the phone. The picture here shows the first prototype which looks like a BlackBerry with OLED keys able to morph depending on the task at hand.

via mozphone

Tags: Mobile News, Mobile Software, Mozilla, Mozphone, OLED, open source, Other Brands

Intel seems to really enjoy these netbooks. Besides the Atom processors, the company has neatly created a personal Linux OS, especially designed for the Atom processor. Moblin is the name of this modified Linux version and you should give it a chance if you have a netbook around. It might replace that Windows XP you might be using currently.

Moblin is available as an alpha release for now but we’re hoping it will grow to a final version. The software was built off of the GNOME Mobile platform and will use the Clutter and GUPnP open source technologies which are also properties of Intel. Let’s see what manufacturer will offer the first netbook with Moblin on it.

via Moblin

Tags: Atom, Intel, Laptops, Linux, Mobile News, Mobile Software, Moblin, netbooks, open source, OS, Portable Devices

Neo1973, one of the first mobile phones based on the OpenMoko open source project for a free mobile phone operating system, has just been approved by the FCC. Developed by First International Computer, the Neo1973 packaging includes a 100 to 220 volts adaptor plug, USB charger + cable, USB A to mini B cable, stylus, earphone, battery and SD memory card.

• Size: 120.7 mm x 62 mm x 18.5 mm
• Weight: 135 grams
• Screen: 2.8″ 480×640 pixels at 285 ppi
• Flash: 128/256MB
• CPU: Samsung s3c2442 Soc (400MHz)
• SDRAM: 128MB
• Connectivity: GPRS 2.5G (no EDGE support), Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, WiFi 802.11 b/g
• GPS: u-blox GPS built-in
• System: OpenMoko Linux, full source available
• Applications: Basic u-boot included. You can develop your own apps!
• Sound: Record/playback, 2×1W stereo speaker, 2.5 mm jack

The manual has tons of other details. Check out OpenMoko for more information on the OS.

Source: FCC

Tags: Cell Phones, Linux, neo1973, open source, OpenMoko, Other Brands