ARM and six companies today announced a collaboration that will result in the development of a Linux-based open source platform for next-generation mobile applications. The collaboration, announced at the fourth annual ARM Developers’ Conference being held this week in Santa Clara, California, builds on the ARM architecture and its rich ecosystem of Partners to deliver a standards-base platform based on Linux. This group of companies are all working to accelerate the enablement of truly always on, connected mobile computing (CMC) devices.

This effort between ARM and its Partners focuses on the development of an open source platform based on Linux, Gnome Mobile and Mozilla Firefox that runs on ARM Partners’ advanced systems on chip (SoCs). The collaboration strengthens ARM’s well-established OS and browser ecosystem, while leveraging the ability of ARM Partners to quickly bring products and technologies with compelling graphics, video, multimedia and internet capabilities to consumers.

Time-to-market is critical, competition is fierce and consumers’ expectation for an always on Internet experience on mobile devices continues to increase. This group addresses the technology challenges and time-to-market requirements that are essential in the development of differentiated Connected Mobile Computing (CMC) devices including but not limited to battery life, software integration and Web browsing capabilities.

“Today’s consumers are very knowledgeable about technology, want to be connected to the Internet and access multimedia content and applications anywhere, at anytime, yet they do not want to be restricted by short battery life and inadequate features that will limit their experiences,” said Mike Inglis, executive vice president, Sales and Marketing, ARM. “By stepping up the collaboration among key stakeholders in the mobile market, we will be able to jointly deliver the devices and applications with the cutting-edge innovation consumers have come to expect.”

ARM will demonstrate multiple Partners’ reference boards running the Linux Mobile Computing Platform in the Mobile Computing Pavilion (booth 701) at the ARM Developers’ Conference. ARM and its Partners plan to release a full platform in early 2008 and bring devices to the market in early 2009. The platform is subject to open source licensing terms and the collaboration is expected to deliver additional projects over time.