Trolltech , an Oslo based company, was certainly one of the early players to recognize the potential of Linux based mobile devices. One of their main products, QTopia, is a software framework for Linux devices. It is available as a dual licenced product: GPL or commercial. Some years ago, Trolltech introduced the GreenPhone which was provided to test, demonstrate and develop QTopia applications on mobile phones.

A month ago, it was announced that QTopia had been successfully ported to the FIC Neo1973 open cell phone.

Last week, Trolltech announced that the GreenPhones were sold out and that they will focus on the Neo and eventually other devices.

It's interesting to see the dynamics of open ecosystems. The Neo1973 was meant to be an open phone based on the OpenMoko software stack. Because of the open nature of the OpenMoko project, Trolltech was able to "hijack" the Neo with its own software. Now we have two platforms competing for the Neo. In the future, they might co-exist, complement each other, merge or even both die because of a powerful new entrant (Gnome Mobile , Google mobile , ...?). For now this is certainly good news for us, developers, and for FIC who will end up selling more phones.

FIC bets on openness. Trolltech's adoption of the Neo shows that this strategy might be a good one.