Mobile open source: LiMO teams up with GNOME

Two of the biggest names in open source software for PC and mobile have announced a deal today. In the mobile corner, we have the LiMo Foundation – and representing PCs is the GNOME Foundation. We take a look at the deal, and what it could mean for the mobile industry.

What’s the story?

LiMo: Back in 2007, the LiMo Foundation was one of two runners competing to create an open source mobile operating system for smartphones based on Linux. The other was Android. The success of Google’s operating system hasn’t been the end of LiMo, however, and the Foundation continues to work towards its own goals. It still has major industry participation, despite the loss of Motorola last year, and there are currently over 50 LiMo devices in circulation around the world – including the recently launched Samsung H1 & M1.

GNOME: the GNOME Foundation is also dedicated to the Linux operating system. GNOME is a graphical user interface that runs on top of Linux, and is completely constructed of free, open source software. Anyone with Linux can download and use GNOME for free, and tinker around with it to their hearts content. The Foundation co-ordinates the development of GNOME, managing its press releases and deciding what projects will be part of future GNOME releases.

The GNOME Foundation also has some pretty impressive industry supporters, including Nokia, Google, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Motorola and the Mozilla Foundation

What’s the story?

Since both operating systems were dedicated to open source and Linux, it shouldn’t surprise you to hear there was already GNOME software present in LiMo releases. GNOME Mobile was founded back in 2007 to create software components for mobile devices, and several versions of LiMo have used them. What today’s announcement is about is working together to more closely co-ordinate elements of GNOME onto the LiMo mobile OS. LiMo is joining the GNOME Advisory Board, and GNOME is becoming a LiMo Industry Liaison Partner.

What we think?

The LiMo Foundation will probably never enjoy the kind of success that Android has – but that’s not to say there isn’t room for both. The OSs are sufficiently different that they can be used by different manufacturers for different kinds of device. For a better look at the differences between Android and Limo, read Bena’s article here.

Otherwise, I’m eager to see what comes out of this “re-alignment”. Having a desktop software developer and a mobile OS developer working this closely raises exciting prospects for real interoperable software in the future.