MUNICH, Germany — NXP is planning to offer Linux for its 3G mobile platform. For the implementation, the semiconductor vendor is cooperating with French communication solution designer Purple Labs.

The duo consisting of NXP and Purple Labs plans to roll out the Linux platform at the 3GSM trade fair in Barcelona. The platform will be built around NXPs Nexperia multimedia family, which in turn is based on an ARM9 processor. The platform will do away with separate baseband and application processors and instead use one processor for all the processing, the companies said. This way, the platform can significantly reduce the complexity of the solution. The use of an Open Source operating system helps to increase the platform's flexibility, the companies claim.

"Linux is making significant inroads in the mobile handset market", said Michael Windal, Marketing Director, Mobile and Personal Business for NXP Semiconductors. "It stimulates the development of new, dynamic multimedia applications such as games, sophisticated music players and TV-on-Mobile solutions".

Open Source platforms enhance interoperability between different manufacturer's handsets, added Dennis O'Donovan, Purple Labs Managing Director.

The NXP Nexperia Cellular Systems Solutions 7210 with Linux will offer real 3G bandwidth, the companies promised. Purple Labs will offer a complete Linux software package based on the Linux 2.6 kernel.

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