Emerging markets targeted with 3G Linux phone

By combining 3G silicon with a Linux phone stack, NXP Semiconductors and Purple Labs have jointly developed a sub-US$100 reference design for a 3G handset that should appeal to handset vendors targeting the emerging markets.

The design is based on the 3G version of NXP's Nexperia 7210 system that has been optimised to run on the Purple Labs Linux suite. French-based Purple Magic said that its design was intended for 3G phones that could sell for US$20 to US$50 cheaper than current low-end models. Yet phones based on this design could offer video telephony, music playback, WAP-based Internet browsing, streaming video, and other advanced 3G functions, according to the company.

For more on this story:
- read EETimes and ZDnet