Software suite suits high-end smart phones

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Nov 30, 2006

Trolltech, the company that makes software faster to build and easier to use, has announced a new development initiative, Qtopia Greensuite.

Trolltech, the company that makes software faster to build and easier to use, has announced a new development initiative, Qtopia Greensuite.

The Initiative actively addresses reducing a manufacturer's time to market and the technology fragmentation issues of today's Linux mobile phone market.

The first software suite announced from the Initiative is Qtopia Greensuite 1, created specifically for high-end smart phone development.

Trolltech's Qtopia Greensuite initiative answers the mobile phone industry's call for flexible, best of breed software solutions in a one-stop-shop format.

Built on top of Qtopia Phone Edition, the Qtopia Greensuite initiative enables Trolltech to offer specific software suites based on handset manufacturers or designers specific technology requirements.

Developers now have the benefits and freedom of Linux and an out-of the-box choice of partner technologies all pre-integrated with the de-facto application platform, Qtopia.

Best of breed partner technology components pre-integrated with Qtopia Phone Edition offer a flexible, modular solution and demonstrates the ubiquity of Qtopia as an open application platform.

Availability of Qtopia source code enables developers to tailor the UI to fit end-user needs - a key differentiator to rival proprietary systems - further strengthening Qtopia Greensuite's appeal.

"Any platform needs a rich ecosystem as well as solid underlying technology to generate the volumes required for commercial success", said Rob Bamforth, Quocirca.

"Simplifying the development cycle through targeted, product-ready software offerings is key to the continued success of Linux for mobile devices".

"The Qtopia Greensuite initiative represents the strong ecosystem of partner technology that exists and supports the Qtopia Phone Edition platform for mobile phones", said Eirik Chambe-Eng, co-CEO and cofounder, Trolltech.

"With our strong history of Linux, our ability to provide a proven platform with support, training and consultancy services and now a pre-integrated suite of technology, handset manufacturers/designers, telecom operators and application developers can now focus on their devices' innovative features".

Until now, handset vendors have had to buy operating systems and standard applications like user interfaces, web browsers and media players from different suppliers and then integrate them.

Software suites from the Qtopia Greensuite initiative will enable device manufacturers to dramatically shorten the technology integration process and bring new, innovative devices to market faster.

Qtopia Greensuite 1 is targeted at the high-end smart phone market and is the first in many planned software suites.

The initial menu of pre-integrated features and applications, to be developed in close co-operation with selected technology partners, includes: WAP and HTML browser; messaging solution; multimedia package including video and audio recording; DRM; 3D graphics; 2.5G and 3G telephony enabled, including video telephony; VoIP support; Java MIDP, CLDC and various JSRs; and document viewing and editing, VPN client, synchronisation tools.

Qtopia Greensuite 1 uses Qtopia Phone Edition - the unrivaled application platform for the efficient creation of Linux mobile phones - as the software application platform and Qtopia Greenphone, launched earlier this year, as the development hardware platform.

Greenphone, launched in August 2006, is the first open Linux mobile device for application developers for creating, modifying and testing Linux-based mobile phone applications on a working GSM/GPRS device, making the applications easier, faster and more fun to build.

Several million Qtopia-based devices have shipped to date, and Qtopia has become the de-facto standard for Linux handset makers with 120 manufacturers building Qtopia devices - 40 of which are mobile phones, including devices from Motorola, ZTE and Cellon.

Qtopia Greensuite 1 is scheduled for availability Q2 2007.