Windows Phone Thoughts: HTC and Linux: It's Still a No-Go

"Despite the recent upsurge in the popularity of Linux-based handsets, it remains a great challenge to transfer Linux-concepts into a product for commercial production because the Linux industry lacks a long-term cooperation partner, such as Microsoft, according to Peter Chou, CEO of High Tech Computer (HTC). HTC has been working together with Microsoft as product creation partners for 10 years and the cooperation between the two companies has resulted in a great deal of "good chemistry results," Chou said on the sideline of the company's 10-year anniversary ceremony. However, HTC is still paying close attention to the latest developments in Linux technology since Linux has been in the IT industry for a long period of time, Chou said. Microsoft senior vice president Pieter Knook also praised the company's cooperation with HTC, stating that the long-term cooperation has helped HTC to build itself as a leading smartphone vendor in the global market. Microsoft delivered 12 million Windows Mobile-based products in the previous fiscal year, with HTC being one of the major contributors, Knook indicated."



I have to go the opposite direction from our friends at Engadget - I don't think HTC is looking for a Linux partner, I think they're clarifying why the market for Linux phones is still very different than the market for Windows Mobile smartphones. One of the reasons why HTC hardware is so impressive is that they've been able to focus on nothing but hardware - they do some software development (they bought IA Style after all), but adding on some software widgets is a far cry from doing the nuts and bolts development that a Linux phone would require. HTC won't be using Linux any time soon.