Orange approves Access Linux Platform (ALP)

[ruby]

Orange approved the Access Linux Platform (ALP) to run on its network, potentially giving much-needed support to Japanese firm Access Co. Ltd., which has sought operator partners for its new mobile-phone operating system.

Access and its subsidiary, PalmSource, are making the platform available to carriers in hopes of seeing them adopt it in new lines of phones and, indeed, Orange plans to use ALP to develop new mobile phone models in its portfolio of Orange Signature Devices.

Several players and alliances have sought to move Linux into the mainstream of mobile-phone operating systems to compete with market leader Symbian and competitors such as Microsoft and its Windows Mobile platform. A new startup, A la Mobile, backed by venture-capital firm Venrock Associates, also announced that it is working to make available its own open source Linux operating system to speed time-to-market for handset vendors and disrupt the proprietary OS market.