DoCoMo to offer Linux-based 3G phones, Dec 03, 2003

NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan's top mobile operator, aims to offer third-generation (3G) handsets that run on the Linux-based operating system (OS) as early as the second half of 2004, a source close to the firm said on Tuesday.

How does one explain a "bad rap", especially one that isn't deserved? Open Source Software development suffers from widespread misunderstandings in the media from myths, false claims and disinformation. As a commercial software program and development manager, I view Open Source Software methods as simply a way to build applications. It happens to be the most efficient one.

Companies spread falsehoods about Open Source methods of development out of fear that it threatens their revenue stream. I saw this first hand in a Senate committee meeting when a member of the BSA testified against a Bill I supported. Others simply conjure up images of wild-eyed hackers breaking into computer systems and writing bugs. Simply put, anyone under that impression suffers from hysterical propaganda.

In its Supplemental Responses to IBM's Second Interrogatories and Second Requests for Documents, SCO gave this answer:

"Insofar as this interrogatory seeks information as to whether plaintiff has ever distributed the code in question or otherwise made it available to the public, SCO has never authorized, approved or knowingly released any part of the subject code that contains or may contain its confidential and proprietary information and/or trade secrets for inclusion in any Linux kernel or as part of any Linux distribution."

Cross your heart and hope to die, SCO? Or cross your fingers behind your back? Let's see what the evidence shows.

SCO has specifically mentioned the following four as being code at issue in this case: JFS, NUMA, RCU, and SMP, and while it is conceivable that the "subject code" they are talking about in this response to IBM's interrogatory is referring to some other code, it seems reasonable to look at the code they have mentioned publicly. Actually, it's more than reasonable. It's our only choice, until they tell us exactly what code they are complaining about with specificity. Is it true that they never "authorized, approved or knowingly released" any of this code for inclusion in any Linux kernel or as part of any Linux distribution?

Finnish software house SOT will be 12 years old tomorrow, having been established on 2.12.1991 in Tampere, Finland by Santeri Kannisto, who currently leads the company in the role of Managing Director.

In the twelve years since its inception, SOT has delivered numerous programming projects, hundreds of computer systems, thousands of device/appliance solutions, and a couple million copies of SOT Linux and SOT Office - the company's flagship ready-to-install software.

 View older news this year: Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan
 View news from other years: 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999