Not all about Linux, Nokia says
Nokia has shaken things up in the handset OS firmament by announcing that it is going to buy Linux platform developer Trolltech. Nokia will offer €104 million and Trolltech’s directors have recommended that its shareholders accept Nokia's Offer.
Nokia says it plans to add Trolltech’s Open Source software to its cross-platform software strategy for mobile devices and desktop applications, and to develop its Internet services business. Nokia's software strategy for devices is based on cross-platform development environments, layers of software that run across operating systems, enabling the development of applications across the Nokia device range. Examples of current cross-platform layers are Web runtime, Flash, Java and Open C.
Explaining why Nokia has now added Trolltech to that list, Kai Öistämö, Executive Vice President, Devices, Nokia said, "Trolltech's deep understanding of open source software and its strong technology assets will enable both Nokia and others to innovate on our device platforms while reducing time-to-market. This acquisition will also further increase the competitiveness of S60 and Series 40."
Speculation will inevitably centre on the fact that this buy forms part of a defensive play by Nokia against Android – to ensure that Nokia itself has an open source development environment. But Nokia is positioning the value of Trolltech’s know-how as being more about giving it development speed and flexibility across all its underlying platforms.
Nokia intends to continue to enhance Trolltech products through active and ongoing development, for both desktop and mobile, and to license Trolltech technology under both commercial and open source licenses.