While end-users may fear Linux, it continues to slowly sneak into more and more products. Newly announced smartphones from Nokia are the latest example.

Nokia has recently announced that they'll be releasing a smartphone based on the Maemo Linux operating system they've been using in their tablets. The past several years have seen Nokia's worldwide share of smartphone sales decreasing significantly as others have crept in - notably Apple's iPhone and Research In Motion's Blackberry.

While the worldwide share of smartphone sales still belongs to Nokia (at 50.3%), it has fallen significantly from the 72% lead they enjoyed in 2006, and Nokia predicts that this trend will continue. They're looking to Linux as a way to improve their user-interface to try and compete with the new competitors.


Linux is already in common use in many places where end-users (who seem to fear it) aren't even aware they're using it. Some common examples include internet servers, TV sets, and cars. It will be interesting to see if Nokia makes any sort of fanfare about Linux when their new smartphones hit the market, or if they'll just emphasize the great user-interface and stability.