Nokia is coming out with a Linux based operating system which will be used on smartphones costing less than $100 (about Rs 4,500). The new operating system from Nokia, has been codenamed “Meltemi” and the project leader for the company will be Mary McDowell, Nokia’s executive vice president, mobile phones.
Nokia has been planning to refresh its low end smartphone segment for quite some time, and it has been looking for a replacement for the S40 phones as the users are leaving the S40 platform in favour of other smartphones. One analyst says it is good for the company to spread the risk.
By going for the Windows Phone platform, Nokia has put itself in a difficult spot as far as low end phone segment is concerned. Android, the main competitor, is anyway pushing the smartphone prices way down than Windows Phone makers are comfortable with.
The result? There is a gap in the product portfolio of Nokia. To address the situation, Nokia either needs to improve the S40 platform or come out with another operating system altogether and that’s precisely what the company is doing with its new Linux based operating system for low end phones. The low end smartphone opportunity is so big even Apple is toying with the idea of bringing one low end iPhone for the segment.