DoCoMo & Intel design cellphone to run multiple operating systems

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 01 November 2006 03:08

Business IT - Technology

NTT DoCoMo has developed, with Intel, specifications for a mobile phone that is able to switch between different operating systems and their associated applications.

NTT says the specifications - to be released in full at 3.00 pm Japan Standard Time on 1 November here
 - provide an open domain, which is separate from the phone's default domain containing the preinstalled operating system and applications. A controller enables switching between the domains.

It suggests one use of the technology will be to enable companies to install an original browser and scheduler, and set an internal security policy for the terminal while allowing individuals to install their own games and other software in the alternative, open domaing, without risk of compromising corporate data or applications.

According to NTT DoCoMo, the domain controller ensures that switching between domains is always possible, so the user can access the phone's default domain even if a technical problem causes the open domain to freeze. The controller also ensures that call functions are always available, regardless of which domain is active. If a call is received while the open domain is active, the user can easily switch to the default domain to take the call.

DoCoMo and Intel terminal architecture teams worked together on various elements of next generation cellular terminal requirements to come up with this specification document.