Nokia quietly kills Linux-based Meltemi, report says
According to a report, Meltemi was supposed to be built on Linux and replace the Series 40 software found in feature phones.
Nokia has decided to nix plans to launch a new software platform for feature phones, according to a new report.
The mobile company was working on a new software platform called Meltemi to replace Series 40, Reuters is reporting today, citing sources. However, the platform, which was Linux-based, has been quietly discontinued by the company. Reuters' sources did not say why Nokia made the decision.
Series 40 was first introduced in 1999. The platform, which runs on some of the top feature phones in the world, proved wildly popular. Earlier this year, in fact, Nokia celebrated the sale of the 1.5 billionth Series 40 device. However, the software was getting old, and Nokia reportedly felt that it needed to offer up something new. Meltemi was that something new.
Feature phones might not get much attention in today's increasingly smartphone-focused mobile market, but they are vastly important. More feature phones are sold each year than smartphones, and in emerging markets around the world, they're still very popular. Nokia has long relied upon feature phones to drive its business.
However, things are changing for Nokia. The company is having an increasingly difficult time selling devices and it recently reported a whopping $1 billion loss during the second quarter. It's possible that Nokia ditched Meltemi simply to save its much-needed cash.
That said, it's important to note that Nokia never confirmed that Meltemi even existed, and the company has stayed tight-lipped on any questions inquiring about a Series 40 replacement. So, if it did, in fact, kill Meltemi, Nokia won't have much explaining to do.
CNET has contacted Nokia for comment on the Reuters report. We will update this story when we have more information.