MontaVista Linux gains IM functionality from Movial

The Linux embedded operating system from MontaVista Software has gained new instant messaging functionality, which is becoming increasingly popular among users of consumer electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs and set-top boxes.

The Linux embedded operating system from MontaVista Software has gained new instant messaging functionality, which is becoming increasingly popular among users of consumer electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs and set-top boxes.

The feature comes by way of Movial, a division of Creanor, which has ported its instant messaging application to the MontaVista operating system, the two companies announced Wednesday.

The Movial instant messaging application has been tested and certified as compatible with MontaVista Linux, and is now available to makers of consumer electronic devices that use the MontaVista operating system. A maker of mobile phones that use the operating system will be able to add Movial’s instant messaging application as a way of making the phones more attractive to buyers.

“This is the latest in the ecosystem that we are trying to build for software components that can be used to rapidly assemble very rich consumer electronics devices running on MontaVista Linux, for example mobile phones,” said Scott Hedrick, senior product marketing manager for consumer electronics at MontaVista.

MontaVista Linux is the umbrella name for the company’s family of Linux operating systems, which includes the flagship MontaVista Linux Professional Edition and the recently-released MontaVista Linux Consumer Electronics Edition. Device manufacturers using its operating system software include Sony, Matsushita, Toshiba America and NEC.

Sunnyvale, Calif.,-based MontaVista has been focusing a lot on expanding its partnerships with companies such as browser makers and middleware vendors whose products can provide additional functionality on top of the MontaVista operating system, he said.

“This is a key one for us, because now we have a very strong partner that can provide instant messaging (functionality),” he said. “Instant messaging is an area where we didn’t have a strong partner that could provide support for all instant messaging protocols, and now we have Movial. … We look forward to having many joint customers with Movial.”

Movial’s instant messaging software supports a variety of standard protocols and technologies for Linux and Java devices connected to fixed and wireless networks.

The companies also announced that Helsinki-based Movial will port other existing and future products over to the MontaVista operating system based on customer demand, he said. The companies have no plans to resell each other’s products, nor will they co-develop any products, but will make sure their products are interoperable, he added.