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Now, a Japanese challenge to Microsoft

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CIOL Bureau
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Toshiba, Hitachi, Fujitsu and NEC and other major Japanese consumer

electronics companies have announced that they have formed a consortium to

develop new versions of the free Linux operating system to power future

computing devices and also link audio and visual equipment, cellular phones and

car navigation equipment. The group is working closely with TurboLinux, one of

the top Linux distributors based in Silicon Valley and the largest distributor

of Linux in the Far East.

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The 24-member group, Embedded Linux Consortium also includes Mitsubishi

Electric and Canon. Sony is considering joining the consortium. "In

addition to electronic appliances, we will target anything that can be linked to

the Internet, and that includes personal digital assistant equipment,'' said

Tatsuo Nakajima, chairman of the consortium.

If adopted, the Linux based software could pose a serious threat to

Microsoft's Windows CE and other software aimed at smaller devices such as PDAs,

set top boxes and cellular phones. Nakajima said that in order to have a chance

to compete with Microsoft, a joint effort and commitment by a large number of

major companies was required. "It is impossible anymore for one company to

develop operating software that can become a widely shared asset, like Microsoft

did."

The Linux announcement came on the same day Microsoft said it will introduce

a Japanese version of its Windows CE-based Pocket PC, a handheld data storage

and information device, which was introduced in the US in April. The consortium,

however, represents major setback for Sun Microsystems and its Java technology.

Previously, it was anticipated that these Japanese consumer electronics

manufacturers would use Java as an alternative to Windows.

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