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Mobile Linux will outsell Microsoft Windows Mobile and other rivalOS makers in the mobile Internet device market by 2013, says ABIResearch. Moblin, LiMo and Maemo will be the leading Linux mobileproviders.

   Linux will be the top-selling operating system in the mobileInternet device market, outselling Microsoft Windows Mobile andother rivals by 2013, said ABI Research.

 The MID market is relatively small nowonly 305,000 MID units areexpected to be shipped in 2008but it is expected to grow to 39.6million units in 2012.

 Linux will dominate that growth, said Stuart Carlaw, AlliedBusiness Intelligence's research director.

 The MID market presents a rare green field for Linux, said thereport from ABI, "Bringing License-Free Operating Systems toSmartphones and Middle-Tier Devices." In MIDs, all mobile OSesare starting out about equal, "without the baggage of previoushistories such as existed in the smart-phone market." Linuxwill lead the pack, said the research group, due in large part to"its ability to provide a converged platform that can spanmultiple device segments."

 New LiMo phones challenge Android. Click here to read more.

 "The flexibility, customization and very positive costcomparison to Windows Mobile look set to ensure that Linux takesthe leading role in this market," Carlaw said.

 Mobile Linux providers LiMo, Maemo and Moblin are laying thegroundwork now to lead the pack when the market gets going, ABIsaid.

 LiMo's main focus is on phones, and

the group announced seven new LiMo-compliant handsets Aug. 4.

 But supporting MIDs means LiMo greatly increases the targethardware options available to software developers targeting LiMomobile phones.

 Maemo and Moblin are sponsored by Nokia and Intel, respectively.Both platforms are currently aimed closely at their target markets:Nokia Internet Tablets for Maemo, and Intel Atom-based MIDs forMoblin. Intel and Moblin are expected to ship Moblin 2.0 in August.

 Click here to read the full story on LinuxDevices.com.