As promised, the LiMo Foundation have delivered the Release 1 of the eponymous Linux-based mobile device OS, which they’re describing as the world’s first globally competitive platform of its kind.  A modular, plug-in and hardware-independent architecture with a core open-source OS, Release 1 is notable for having been distributed already on a number of commercially available handsets from well-known manufacturers such as Samsung, Motorola and LG, and with more devices that use it in the pipeline for later in the year.

“With Release 1 of the LiMo Platform now completed, LiMo Foundation has established a scalable and sustainable mobile device platform that will spur rapid innovation and contributions from all LiMo members” Morgan Gillis, executive director, LiMo Foundation 

“With developers able to cost-effectively leverage LiMo’s global reach and market-tested expertise in rolling out their innovations, the mobile Internet experiences of consumers everywhere stand to be transformed” Kiyohito Nagata of NTT DoCoMo, chairman of LiMo Foundation 

Work is now taking place on specifying and developing Release 2, which is estimated for completion in late 2008.  However third-party developers are able to download the LiMo API now, and build applications for devices using the OS.  Software Development Kits for Native, Webkit and Java operating environments will be released from the second half of the year.