Nokia

Nokia buys Trolltech and blows a raspberry at Android

Nokia, the Finnish mobile phone giant, have announced their acquisition (I love that word, it sounds like I’m a fighter pilot acquiring a target) of software company Trolltech, according to this story from Engadget Mobile. Which might not sound like that big a deal, until you realise the implications of it…

First of all, you need to consider the question: who are Trolltech? Easy enough to answer, that one, they’re a software company, who specialise in Linux-based software (that you may well have come into contact with, as it’s used in Skype and Google Earth). They’ve also been pioneering the use of Linux, a gorgeous, super-fast operating system, on mobile phones. And crucially, they’re part of the LiMo Foundation.

The what, now?

The LiMo Foundation, a group of companies dedicated to bring a completely open source, Linux-based operating system into a vast range of mobile phones. Now, where have we heard that before?

Yep, that’s right, they’re setting out to outdo Android, before it even hits the shelves. And that’s where it gets interesting, because the deal means Nokia are now putting their considerable might behind the competition to Android. Which means one thing:

Fight!

So, not only will the purchase of Trolltech allow them to revamp and reinvigorate the Symbian operating system, but it will also let them take the battle straight to Android’s doorstep.

Which means 2008 is going to be an even more vicious war between all the mobile phone makers, than even we predicted!

Label:nokia