Garmin-ASUS to drop custom Linux for Android
updated 11:10 am EDT, Tue June 16, 2009
Garmin-ASUS Picks Android
Garmin-ASUS at CommunicAsia on Tuesday said that its decision to launch Android phones next year will mark the end of the partnership's custom Linux variant. The nuvifone G60 will now be both the first and last phone to run the in-house OS and all future nuvifones will either use Android or else, like the M20, Windows Mobile. Reasons for the switch haven't been explained to CNET but likely center on both the true smartphone-level feature set as well as the reduced work of using an existing OS rather than developing from scratch.
The two companies also revealed that the first Android-based Garmin-ASUS phone will be introduced late in 2009 rather than early 2010, hinting that the G60 may have a short life before it's replaced or updated with an Android equivalent. Details of the future sequel haven't been provided beyond the nuvifone's distinctive Garmin-based GPS navigation.
