Analysis: What Palm Sees in Linux

Palm revealed plans at its annual analyst and investor day in New York this week to produce a Linux-based operating platform for mobile devices later this year, in addition to the Windows Mobile OS-based platform it already offers.

Palm said that creating a mobile platform running on a Linux kernel opens the door for Web application developers to create applications for smartphones and other mobile devices without having to pour excessive resources into development. Also on tap in a new Linux core: improved performance, reliability and stability, as compared to the current Palm OS, the vendor said. The new Linux-based OS will support simultaneous voice/data and multithreading, things missing in the currently available Palm OS.

Palm noted that it's using assets from its recent purchase of e-mail client software company ChatterEmail and the acquisition of technical and personnel resources from interface design firm Iventor to speed development plans.The company balked at confirming reports that Palm may be bought by a mobile device vendor, but executives didn't deny rumors either. Dell, Motorola and Nokia have been rumored as possible suitors.