Telefonica, other telcos to launch Linux phones

HELSINKI Feb 9 (Reuters) - One of the largest mobile operators in the world, Telefonica (TEF.MC), joined wireless Linux foundation LiMo on Monday and committed with five other major operators to sell phones using its software this year.

Vodafone (VOD.L), Orange (FTE.PA), Japan's NTT DoCoMo (9437.T), Korea's SK Telecom (017670.KS), and the top U.S. operator Verizon Wireless will also introduce phones using LiMo software in 2009, the operators said in a joint statement ahead of Mobile World Congress trade show next week in Barcelona.

"With a host of operators pledging to deliver handsets in 2009, we expect LiMo to start making real tangible progress in 2010," said Geoff Blaber, an analyst at research firm CCS Insight.

The market for software platforms on cellphones is led by Nokia's (NOK1V.HE) Symbian operating system, but it has lost much ground over the last year to Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Research in Motion (RIMM.O) (RIM.TO).

Computer operating system Linux has had little success in cellphones thus far, but its role is increasing with the LiMo platform and Google Inc (GOOG.O) using Linux to build its Android platform.

LiMo, a non-profit foundation, hopes to benefit from its focus on giving greater say over software development to telecoms operators.

"Android is enjoying a huge amount of momentum at the moment in terms of operator commitment and manufacturer support," said CCS' Blaber. "However, LiMo remains a strong longer term bet for a host of operators that seek an independent and service neutral platform."

TOO MANY PLAYERS

Vodafone and other operators have strongly pledged for a smaller number of operating systems, as supporting them is a timely and costly exercise.

However, the number of large operating systems has over last years increased with new players like Apple and Google entering the mobile market.

"The biggest battle within the industry is for the control of consumer experience. Apple, Google and Nokia are getting to major operators turf," Morgan Gillis, head of LiMo, told Reuters in an interview. "There's a strong intention among major operators to rationalise amount of platforms available, and this has been intensified in current economic situation," Gillis said.

Linux is the most popular type of free or so-called open source computer operating system which is available to the public to be used, revised and shared. Linux suppliers earn money selling improvements and technical services, and Linux competes directly with Microsoft, which charges for its Windows software and opposes freely sharing its code. (Reporting by Tarmo Virki; Editing by Bernard Orr)