BBC News Online: Business

Nokia chooses Linux

Linux, which is distributed freely, was invented by the Finnish computer programmer Linus Torvalds.

It quickly became a serious rival to the Microsoft Windows operating system and has split the technology world into two.

Nokia's new Media Terminal, a home entertainment system that aims to compete with Microsoft's X-box and other games consoles, will be launched later this year.

Development site

CollabNet of the US has landed a deal with Nokia to provide consulting services and the technology based on the Linux software.

As part of the deal, the two have jointly launched an independent website - which they call an "open standard terminal" (OST) - to help support other home entertainment applications by "open source developers".

"The home entertainment industry has traditionally been very proprietary with its technology," said CollabNet chief executive Bill Portelli.

"Working with CollabNet... Nokia is giving the worldwide developer community a unique opportunity to create new and innovative applications for this market," he said.

Rickard Nelger, Nokia Home Communications' head of product management, added: "We are convinced that openness is the way forward.

"With the OST platform Nokia aims at initiating the creation of an open standard for IP-based home entertainment."