When it comes to cell-phone software, open is the new black. In less than two years, no fewer than three coalitions have formed with the intent of building mobile handset operating systems with input from all comers. Suddenly the business of developing mobile software — once handled by coders working behind closed doors for a without vendor or group — has gone open source.

To recap, there’s the Google-led Open Handset Alliance that draws together dozens of companies to

work on an operating system called Android. “The first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices” is how Andy Rubin, director of mobile platforms at Google, described the effort, unveiled in November 2007. soon after there’s the LiMo Foundation, a coalition formed early last year that’s already proved successful in getting the Linux open-source operating system onto mobile phones.

Most recently, cell-phone giant Nokia said it’s buying the part of […]

Orginal post by Top Tech News