Motorola rolls out next-gen Linux phone OS

Motorola today officially unveiled MOTOMAGX, the Linux-based operating system for its phones that launches with the RAZR2 V8 and ROKR Z6 and will take over from the Synergy software found in the RAZR and older models. In addition to letting Motorola itself improve browsing, media playback, and other features that were not always easy to implement before, the open nature of the code gives the option of third-party apps that would have previously been impractical. MAGX runs both the Java apps common to many phones but will also support native Linux programs with a future update and a custom web interface dubbed WebUI that should allow widgets and similar mini-apps with little effort.

The RAZR2 and ROKR Z6 are already available in Korea and a few smaller markets; Motorola confirms that the RAZR2 in particular will be the first phone running MAGX in the US when it launches during the summer, though the V9 will continue to run Synergy. Developers can already write Java apps for the phones as of today and should get a kit to do so for Linux and WebUI tools in the fall. Companies such as Electronic Arts and Yahoo have already shown an interest in developing games and other web tools, Motorola says.