Software Platform

Intel buys Linux developer Opened Hand

Paul Mah — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:38:50 -0400

In yet another sign of the growing interest in operating systems tailored for mobile devices, Intel has acquired startup Linux developer Opened Hand. Opened Hand is a London-based firm that has created fundamental software for companies such as Nokia and the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC). The Opened Hand team will be tasked with helping Intel develop its Moblin Software Platform. Moblin is an open-source software stack designed specifically to integrate Intel's own Atom processors with Mobile Internet Devices (MID), netbooks and embedded systems. Existing projects such as Clutter and Matchbox will continue to be led by Opened Hand employees.

For more about Intel's acquisition:
- check out this PCWorld article

Nokia to buy all of Symbian

Paul Mah — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:33:24 -0400

Nokia has announced that it will offer to acquire the remaining 52 percent of Symbian Limited. Control of Symbian Limited, a software company formed to develop and license the Symbian OS, effectively gives Nokia sole control of the market-leading operating system for mobile devices.

Already, irrevocable undertakings have been secured from most of the other key owners--representing 91 percent of non-Nokia shares. Post-acquisition, Nokia intends to establish the Symbian Foundation, which will be instrumental to move the Symbian platform to open source over the next two years. You can read the press release announcing the Symbian Foundation here (pdf).

For more on Nokia's Symbian acquisition:
- check out this MobileMonday blog