Motorola phone taps MontaVista Linux
Stephen Shankland Former Principal Writer
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Expertise Processors, semiconductors, web browsers, quantum computing, supercomputers, AI, 3D printing, drones, computer science, physics, programming, materials science, USB, UWB, Android, digital photography, science. Credentials
- Shankland covered the tech industry for more than 25 years and was a science writer for five years before that. He has deep expertise in microprocessors, digital photography, computer hardware and software, internet standards, web technology, and more.
MontaVista Software said Wednesday it is the provider of a version of Linux used in an advanced Motorola cell phone, the A760, which was unveiled in February. (Though Motorola confirmed MontaVista's involvement at the time of release, MontaVista had declined to comment.) MontaVista said its software will be used in several other mobile phones from major manufacturers.
The A760, planned for release later this year, has numerous high-end features such as the ability to play MP3 audio, take digital photos and connect to other electronic equipment using Bluetooth wireless communication. Motorola has said it plans to use Linux OS in most of its phones, which will also be able to run programs written in Sun Microsystems' Java language.