This summer, in a perfect storm of activity, the cell phone suddenly became a full-fledged wireless computer.
Those prime-time TV commercials promoting the iPhone downplay the telephone application to emphasize data-rich Internet media capabilities -- email, Web surfing, GPS navigation, music, photos, and video -- all on a cell phone. Hard on Apple's heels, a blitz of new handhelds is beginning to vie for attention, led by Motorola's US launch of the Linux-based RAZR2 V8, now taking place.
Has Linux become a contending competitive platform, pushing open source to the front of the stage in this market?