Access Linux Platform

The Access Linux Platform (ALP) is a discontinued open-source software based operating system, once referred to as a "next-generation version of the Palm OS," for mobile devices developed and marketed by Access Co., of Tokyo, Japan. The platform included execution environments for Java, classic Palm OS, and GTK+-based native Linux applications. ALP was demonstrated in devices[1] at a variety of conferences, including 3GSM,[2] LinuxWorld,[3] GUADEC, and Open Source in Mobile.

The ALP was first announced in February 2006.[4] The initial versions of the platform and software development kits were officially released in February 2007.[5] There was a coordinated effort by Access, Esteemo, NEC, NTT DoCoMo, and Panasonic to use the platform as a basis for a shared platform implementing a revised version of the i.mode Mobile Oriented Applications Platform (MOAP) (L) application programming interfaces (APIs), conforming to the specifications of the LiMo Foundation. The first smartphone to use the ALP was to be the Edelweiss by Emblaze Mobile that was scheduled for mid-2009.[6][7] However, it was shelved before release.[8] The First Else (renamed from Monolith[9]) smartphone, that was being developed by Sharp Corporation in cooperation with Emblaze Mobile and seven other partners, was scheduled for 2009, but was never released and officially cancelled in June 2010.[10][11] The platform is no longer referenced on Access's website,[12] but Panasonic and NEC released a number of ALP phones for the Japanese market between 2010 and 2013.

  1. ^ "Reference design targets Linux mobile phones". Linuxdevices.com\date= August 7, 2007. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009.
  2. ^ "Access Linux Platform on Display at 3GSM". Engadget. February 12, 2007. Archived from the original on December 6, 2012.
  3. ^ "Access Linux Platform at LinuxWorld SF". Palminfocenter.com. August 20, 2006. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014.
  4. ^ "Access and PalmSource Announce the Access Linux Platform". Access/PalmSource press release. February 14, 2006. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ "Access Releases Access Linux Platform PDK and SDK to Licensees and Developers". Access press release. February 12, 2007. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  6. ^ "Edelweiss". Edelweiss-mobile.com. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  7. ^ Kairer, Ryan (October 13, 2008). "Review of the Edelweiss mobile phone at Palm Infocenter". Palminfocenter.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  8. ^ Keilhack, Kris (September 19, 2009). "ALP-powered Emblaze Edelweiss shelved in favor of Monolith?". PalmInfocenter.
  9. ^ "The First Else (aka The Monolith)". Archived from the original on December 6, 2013.
  10. ^ "The Monolith Project". Emblaze Mobile. Archived from the original on March 3, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  11. ^ Ricker, Thomas. "RIP: Emblaze kills First Else". Engadget. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013.
  12. ^ "Access". Archived from the original on July 1, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.