Palm Ramping Up for Linux-Based Devices

Although Palm OS Cobalt was introduced over a year ago, Palm, Inc. has never released a handheld or smartphone running it, and it's very unlikely that it ever will do so.

Instead the company has continued to use the previous version, Palm OS Garnet, in all its devices. It has, however, continued to modify and tweak this version to better fit its needs.

Palm isn't alone in shunning Cobalt. Even PalmSource recently admitted that it has given up on Cobalt and is concentrating its efforts on the next major revamp of its operating system, currently known as Palm OS for Linux.

Going to Move On?

Some have questioned whether Palm will ever give up on Garnet, and move on the Linux version.

Although the company hasn't made any statements committing itself to doing this, there's strong evidence on its own web site that it is already preparing to do so.

A search for the term "Linux" on the page listing job openings at Palm turns up no less than ten hits.

Admittedly, some of these are for people who will be working with software designed to allow Palm OS handhelds to interact with Linux-based desktops and servers, but not all of them.

Easily the most significant is an opening for a "Linux Engineer, Mobile Handset."

The duties and responsibilities for this position are:

As a Linux Engineer, you will play a key role in the architecture, design and implementation of enabling technologies for a new generation of Palm devices.

Not Soon, But Eventually

Naturally, from this brief mention, there's no way to tell whether Palm's plans for Linux-based devices include handhelds, smartphones, or both.

PalmSource is primarily developing Palm OS for Linux for smartphones, but Palm could modify it to make it suitable for handhelds, too.

Any such devices won't be available for some time. Recently, Patrick McVeigh, PalmSource's interim CEO, said that Palm OS for Linux is on schedule to be released to licensees during the first half of next year.

Thanks to Jeff Kirvin for the tip.

Related Links

• The Latest on Palm OS for Linux
• Palm OS for Linux -- It's a Good Thing