Nokia gets behind Linux

Finnish vendor Nokia threw more support behind Linux on Wednesday by joining the Linux Foundation, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to accelerating the growth of Linux.

Nokia already dabbles in the Linux environment through its Linux-based Maemo platform, open source mobile web browser and developer portal. The company said it is interested in working with the Forum on Linux-based technologies for its internet tablet.

“It is important that Linux will not be controlled by any single company,” said Ari Jaaksi, director of Nokia’s Open Source Software Operation. “The Linux Foundation’s protection mission helps provide that assurance. We also believe the Foundation’s collaboration role will provide us a good venue to work with the industry’s leaders in important areas such as desktop architecture and mobile Linux initiatives.”

Chipset manufacturer Marvell and connected devices virtualisation firm VirtualLogix, also joined the Forum this week.

In other news, Nokia also announced the availability of the Open C Plug-In extension for the S60 3rd Edition Software Development Kit (SDK). The Open C platform improves productivity for S60 developers working in the Symbian C/C++ environment, and enables easier porting of Linux-targeted open source projects to Symbian OS-based S60 smartphones.