Geek With Laptop

Last month, Motorola shipped its next-generation Linux-based phone, the RAZR2 V8, for North America.

The follow up to that launch is the debut of a new development platform the company is hoping will be a big hit with mobile Linux developers.

Previously, Motorola had relied heavily on Java-based developers for its mindshare.

Now the company is widening its scope with the debut of MOTOMAGX. The next-gen open platform supports native Linux application environments as well as applications developed in Java ME.

Phones developed with MOTOMAGX are expected to come with Opera Web browsers as well as technology to enable widgets and other Web 2.0 experiences.

In the next few years, Motorola said it expects about 60% of its handsets will be built using MOTOMAGX.

Motorola plans to introduce to select developers the MOTOMAGX tools as part of a global series of MOTODEV summits or exclusive, one-day events.

Does that mean the end to Motorola’s love relationship with Java? I don’t think so.

There are currently more than 100 Motorola products that offer a Java runtime environment and the company doesn’t seem likely to throw out the ME with the bathwater anytime soon.