Marvell Technology Inc (MRVL)

[satoshi]

Tech Companies Agree to Work
On Standard Mobile Software

By DON CLARK
October 3, 2007 1:21 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Seven technology vendors are laying plans to collaborate on a standard layer of software that will make it easier to develop cellphones and other mobile devices with iPhone-like sophistication.

The effort, which will exploit the Linux operating system and other open-source software, is being announced Wednesday at a conference in San Jose, Calif., that is hosted by ARM Holdings plc. Other participants include chip makers Texas Instruments Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. and Marvell Technology Group Ltd.

ARM's chip designs, which are licensed to companies that sell semiconductors, are the most widely used electronic brains in cellphones. But many of those companies make slight additions and modifications to the chips, noted Warren East, ARM's chief executive, in an interview. "Everybody seeks to do something a little bit different," he said.

There are also slight differences in operating systems and other pieces of software used on mobile devices. The variations add delays to the process of writing application software that works on the gadgets.

Participants hope the new collaboration will address such issues, Mr. East said. They plan to develop software that can become a focus of development for programmers developing applications, and will be released to for review and refinement by other open-source software developers.

The effort comes as Intel Corp., the dominant force in microprocessors for personal computers, is discussing plans to step up activity aimed at ARM's turf. While Intel had offered chips based on ARM's designs -- a business recently sold to Marvell -- it is now stressing the possibility of adapting the x86 technology used in PC chips for new mobile products.

At its developer conference last month, Intel executives said that standard x86 chips make it easier to make application programs that work on many pieces of hardware. Mr. East said ARM has a big head start in the market, but acknowledged that any advantages of x86 technology would relate to its software ecosystem.

"I never underestimate Intel as a competitor," Mr. East said. "But they have a lot of catching up to do."

The other members of the new software-development effort are MontaVista Software Inc., Movial Corp. and Mozilla Corp. All are closely held.

Write to Don Clark at [e-mail]