Palm on Target to Debut Linux Smartphone in 2009

• Posted: Wednesday, January 16, 2008
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• Author: pradhana
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• Filed under: Google, Google Android, Smartphone

After admitting last fall that its first Linux-based smartphone is still 12 to 18 months from retail release, Palm last week confirmed the device is still on target to make its commercial debut in early 2009.

In an interview with Brighthand, Palm vice president of smartphone product marketing Stephane Maes said the firm expects to wrap work on the Linux version of its Palm OS -- which reportedly goes by the internal codename "Nova" -- by the end of this year, concurrent with distribution of an SDK enabling developers to create new applications and confirm compatibility of existing apps.

According to Maes, mobile operators are already expressing interest in the smartphone--in the interim, Palm will continue offering devices running on the current incarnation of the Palm OS as well as Windows Mobile-based products. Maes added the Centro will remain the focus of Palm's consumer product line across 2008 -- rumor has it the device will become available from operators besides Sprint within weeks.

With Palm OS II devices not expected for another year, in the mean time, Palm is going to continue to offer models running the current version of the Palm OS, as well as ones based on Windows Mobile.

Palm's Maes was willing to say that the Centro will be at the heart of his company's consumer product line for much of this year, but wouldn't go into any additional details. This Palm OS-based smartphone is rumored to be coming to other telecom's besides Sprint in the next few weeks.

Early last week, many of the details on a pair of new Windows Mobile Treos leaked out of Vodafone. Not surprisingly, Maes declined to comment on these. He did say, however, that Palm intends to release several Windows Mobile-based smartphones this year. [FierceDeveloper/Brighthand]

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