Linux-based smartphones have always occupied a tiny market share due to loads of reasons. However, in 2010 everything may change dramatically since due to overall growth of demand towards smartphones the interest towards custom-built Linux-based platforms will also increase. And pretty dramatically, according to market tracking company ABI Research.

The research company anticipates that Linux-enabled smartphones, led by the success of Google’s Android, will comprise 33% of the worldwide smartphone market by 2015. With more than 60 000 smartphones shipping per day, Android has catapulted ahead of other Linux mobile platforms.

 “Due to its low cost and ability to be easily modified, Linux in the mobile market today is nearly as disruptive as Linux was in server markets a decade ago,” said senior analyst Victoria Fodale.

Much of the interest that handset OEMs and mobile operators have in Android can be traced to its flexibility.

“The Android platform can be modified so that OEMs can differentiate their products and the licensing terms allow OEMs to innovate while still protecting proprietary work,” said Ms. Fodale.

But although Google has built early momentum, Android is not without competition. Industry heavyweights Intel, Nokia, and Samsung recently announced two other new Linux-based operating systems, bada and MeeGo. The bada platform is also kernel-configurable so that it can run either on the Linux kernel or a real-time operating system (RTOS) kernel – which makes bada applicable to a wider range of devices than just smartphones.

Tags: Linux, Android, Google, Samsung, Bada, MeeGo, Nokia, Intel