Transmeta pushes Linux in China
Transmeta has signed on Chinese computer maker Chinese 2000 Holdings to
develop and market low-cost Linux-based devices such as notebooks, PCs and
set-top boxes.
Transmeta, a manufacturer of low-power, Intel-compatible chips, says its
chips consume less power than Intel or Advanced Micro Devices processors--with
similar performance. But Transmeta has struggled to win contracts with major PC
makers. The company said it hopes a growing interest in Linux in the
Asia-Pacific region will boost demand for Transmeta-powered products.
Chinese 2000 Holdings will develop products based on Midori
Linux--Transmeta's own Linux distribution for mobile devices. In exchange,
Transmeta said it has taken an equity ownership in Chinese 2000 Holdings and the
two companies have made a profit-sharing arrangement for revenue from the sale
of Midori Linux services and support. The companies are aiming products at
China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The Chinese government is backing a home-grown Linux system called Red Flag,
while in Thailand, HP is selling a low-cost "people's notebook" running on
Linux.
Because of Linux's stability, some electronics makers are already using it to
power high-end consumer electronics devices, one the best-known being the TiVo
digital video recorder.
"Transmeta's unique combination of microprocessor, system-level and Linux
expertise, coupled with Chinese 2000 Holdings' experience in the Asian markets,
make a formidable partnership," Transmeta Chief Executive Matthew R. Perry said
in a statement. "Together, we offer our customers a comprehensive approach to
Linux-based computing."
ZDNet UK's Matthew Broersma reported from London.
Interest in Linux has grown in
Asia-Pacific countries because, unlike a lot of other software, its intellectual
property is not owned by U.S. multinational corporations. Linux is distributed
under an open-source license that broadly allows anyone to modify and
redistribute the code, as long as the modifications are shared with the
developer community..