LiMo Release 1 not enough to build a complete phone – interoperable platform still to come – Access
Linux platform developer Access has said that it hopes to lead the development of the LiMo Foundation's SDK, as well as take leadership in the area of providing packages of applications to operators.
Michel Piquemal, General manager, Director of strategic planning, ACCESS Europe. told Mobile Europe that Access has a lead over the rest of the LiMo members in the ecosystem is has already built around its ALP platform, as well as in its ability to provide packages of applications to carriers that are guaranteed to work across their range of ALP devices.
Piquemal said that Access had a history of working closely with carriers, most notably Orange and DoCoMo to provide them with the ability to build value added services that would work across a range of devices from different manufacturers. This would continue to be Access' advantage, even as it aligns its platform with LiMo's specification and ecosystem, Piquemal said.
"We've been working with Orange for a number of years from an organisational standpoint, specifically in a one to one relationship, working on a carrier package of key applications," he said. "In terms of differentiation towards carriers, Access has leadership in the marketplace, specifically with carrier packages that allow them to differentiate on VAS. A key aim is a complete turnkey solution that enables carriers to differentiate and build value on the platform."
The other key area of focus for Access within LiMo will be the release of the LiMo SDK, Piquemal said.
"The ecosystem topic is very important for LiMo – which is committed to a release of an SDK for developers to innovate on devices. But we have built our own ecosystem and there are a lot of components there today that are outside the range of LiMo," he said.
So how does Access align its desire to differentiate with its joining of a platform of a range of developers, operators and manufacturers that is committed to interoperability.
"I don't think those are separate things," Piquemal said, "This is not done overnight. On ALP-based devices, in most cases the application will work from one device to another. So carriers will be able to make one carrier package based on – developing once and then running on Linux-based devices.
Of course today this is limited to devices running ALP but the reason for our LiMo involvement is to make sure that beyond ALP the same will be possible with all LiMo devices." Piquemal said,
So how much of ALP will end up being core to LiMo's code?
"LiMo is a group with very much a contribution ethic. Every member is welcome to contribute. Clearly that's our main intent, and the key topic is the SDK, defining the way the whole platform works." Piquemal said.
"Were confident with the fact that our contribution to LDK will be very much valued."
The ability of LiMo to be able to provide a complete plaform, is something that "remains a roadmap today" Piquemal said – with much seemingly still up for grabs from a contribution point of view.
"Individually all the software providers will release product, and this is a proof point that the LiMo Foundation is moving forward, to provide real devices for the real market. One step after another these devices will be instances of the LiMo platform, but the first LiMo R1 platform is not complete to build a complete phone. Release 2 will be a step towards that goal," Piquemal said.