| Linux dominating VoIP devices? |
Mar. 20, 2007
 Trolltech says its development framework and software stack for mobile devices was selected by Skype as the preferred platform for Skype-certified VoIP (voice-over-IP) phones. Additionally, the Qtopia framework/stack has been used in about 40 VoIP devices, making it the "dominant Linux development platform for VoIP/WiFi devices," according to Trolltech.
Trolltech CTO Benoit Schillings called Skype "the aircraft carrier of VoIP WiFi," adding, "This is a nice victory for us. The deal means that we will work with Skype to be certain there is always a version of Qtopia that meets all the requirements of Skype-certified devices."
Qtopia design wins
(Click each image for details) | 
Sony MyLO | 
Accton VM3228T | 
Wistron GW1 | 
Belkin WiFi phone
(Accton VM1185T) | 
Neuf Twin | 
Gupp Phreedom | 
Philips VP6500 | 
Fluke Network Analyzer | 
Archos 604 |
Qtopia is Trolltech's development framework, graphics framework, and application stack for Linux-based mobile devices of all kinds. Initially popularized on Sharp's Zaurus PDA, Qtopia provides a lighter, faster GUI than Linux's traditional X Window system -- important considerations for resource-constrained battery-powered mobile devices. thousands of commercial and open source Qtopia applications have appeared through the years.
As the PDA market began ceding ground to the mobile phone market, Trolltech adapted Qtopia to mobile phones. However, the company never specifically pursued VoIP phones, according to Schillings. He explained, "We never before tried to [make a version of Qtopia] just for VoIP phones. But now, we are a major player in this market. It shows how Qtopia is device-agnostic. For example, most of development done on GreenPhone [story] also makes sense for a VoIP environment."
Schillings confirmed that Trolltech's relationship with Skype began many years ago, when Skype chose to develop its flagship soft-phone on top of Trolltech's Qt cross-platform development framework. Perhaps best-known in the Linux world for serving as the basis of the KDE (KDE desktop environment), Qt is actually a cross-platform development environment aimed at enabling one source code base to be built into binaries for multiple platforms. Skype's choice of Qt enabled it to deliver both Windows CE and Linux Skype clients very soon after releasing desktop Windows and Mac versions.
Schillings noted that Trolltech's deal with Skype is not exclusive, and that Qtopia will continue to go into other proprietary VoIP phones, as well as standards-based SIP VoIP phones. He said, "In the case of WiFi markets, Skype is the big one, but Trolltech is also working with Fonav, which makes a VoIP phone that is compatible with Google's GTalk, and we are in 40 other WiFi devices, with a number of additional ones in the works."
Trolltech plans to display many of its 40 VoIP phone wins at the VONM trade show this week in San Jose. These include:By 2010, VoIP shipment volumes will reach 46 million units for wireline devices and 200 million units in VoIP over WiFi, according to ABI Research figures cited by Trolltech. Skype was the first company to popularize VoIP softphones, and for many its name is still synonymous with VoIP. However, carrier VoIP services such as Vonage, Verizon VoiceWing, and AT&T CallVantage in the U.S., and European offerings from BT, Wanadoo, and AOL are increasingly popular, numerous reports suggest. Research from Point Topic in 2006 suggested that Skype had just under 15 percent of the market, second to Vonage's nearly 22 percent.
Asked for an opinion about whether proprietary VoIP clients like Skype can remain competitive with standards-based open source offerings, Schillings said, "Skype's protocols are closed, but continuously evolving. Some of the open standards groups will try to move faster, to get very good video integration, for example. So there's an evolving battlefield there. But right now, what I see is the volume of customers that Skype has."
Various reports spotted online suggest that Skype has between 5 million and 9 million regular customers, although Skype client software has been downloaded many, many millions of times.
Trolltech is publicly traded on the Oslo Stock Exchange. During its IPO last July, the company raised about $19 million, with shares selling for as much as 19 Norwegian Kroners (approx. $3). Prior to the announcement of this news, shares were trading between 11 and 12 NOKs ($1.63 to $1.96) per share.
Trolltech has traditionally declined to reveal its product pricing structures, demurring that its royalty rates are too volume-dependent to be meaningful out of context.
Related Stories:
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
FUEL Database on MontaVista Linux
Whether building a mobile handset, a car navigation system, a package tracking device, or a home entertainment console, developers need capable software systems, including an operating system, development tools, and supporting libraries, to gain maximum benefit from their hardware platform and to meet aggressive time-to-market goals.
Breaking New Ground: The Evolution of Linux Clustering
With a platform comprising a complete Linux distribution, enhanced for clustering, and tailored for HPC, Penguin Computing¿s Scyld Software provides the building blocks for organizations from enterprises to workgroups to deploy, manage, and maintain Linux clusters, regardless of their size.
Data Monitoring with NightStar LX
Unlike ordinary debuggers, NightStar LX doesn¿t leave you stranded in the dark. It¿s more than just a debugger, it¿s a whole suite of integrated diagnostic tools designed for time-critical Linux applications to reduce test time, increase productivity and lower costs. You can debug, monitor, analyze and tune with minimal intrusion, so you see real execution behavior. And that¿s positively illuminating.
Virtualizing Service Provider Networks with Vyatta
This paper highlights Vyatta's unique ability to virtualize networking functions using Vyatta's secure routing software in service provider environments.
High Availability Messaging Solution Using AXIGEN, Heartbeat and DRBD
This white paper discusses a high-availability messaging solution relying on the AXIGEN Mail Server, Heartbeat and DRBD. Solution architecture and implementation, as well as benefits of using AXIGEN for this setup are all presented in detail.
Understanding the Financial Benefits of Open Source
Will open source pay off? Open source is becoming standard within enterprises, often because of cost savings. Find out how much of a financial impact it can have on your organization. Get this methodology and calculator now, compliments of JBoss.
Embedded Hardware and OS Technology Empower PC-Based Platforms
The modern embedded computer is the jack of all trades appearing in many forms.
Data Management for Real-Time Distributed Systems
This paper provides an overview of the network-centric computing model, data distribution services, and distributed data management. It then describes how the SkyBoard integration and synchronization service, coupled with an implementation of the OMG¿s Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard, can be used to create an efficient data distribution, storage, and retrieval system.
7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.
|
|
|
|
|
news feed