Summary: Another Microsoft-taxed Linux phone debuts; Microsoft's CEO says Microsoft "screwed up with Windows Mobile"

THERE are particular Linux phones which ought to be avoided because they help Microsoft establish a practice whereby devices using Linux pay a 'tax' to Microsoft for software patents it claims exist (but won't show, ever). It's racketeering. One set of phones to avoid is LG's Android phones and another is Samsung's LiMo phones, which are now coming to Vodafone (links to news appended below).

Why did Vodafone pick a company that pays Microsoft for Linux? One possibility is that the head of Vodafone, being Microsoft's former head of the failing Windows Mobile unit, is looking to obey Microsoft's will [1, 2]. Ex-Microsoft staff also tends to favour SUSE, as we have shown before.

This comes at an interesting time when Microsoft's CEO says that the company screwed up with Windows Mobile.

"Ballmer says they screwed up with Windows Mobile. Wishes they had already lauched WM7. They completely revamped the team," reported venture capitalist Paul Jozefak.

Steve Ballmer is indeed quoted as saying this and damage control from the 'Microsoft press' (or other sources) cannot hide euphoria and "frustration".

Microsoft is busy trying to 'tax' other people's products. The worst one can do is allow Microsoft to do this. Here again are the companies to avoid. ⬆ _____ ● Vodafone, Samsung spin first LiMo R2 phone

● Samsung Elec: To Supply Linux-Powered Smartphones To Vodafone

● Samsung Electronics releases 1st open source-based mobile

● Samsung Releases Open Source-based Phone For British Mobile Carrier

Samsung Electronics Co., the world's second largest handset maker, said Friday that it released its first open source-based mobile phone exclusively for a British mobile carrier.

● SAMSUNG RELEASES OPEN SOURCE-BASED PHONE FOR BRITISH MOBILE CARRIER

Samsung Electronics Co. (KSE:005930), the world's second largest handset maker, said Friday that it released its first open source-based mobile phone exclusively for a British mobile carrier.

● Samsung to release first open-source cell phone

The company’s new handset, the Vodafone 360 H1, made exclusively for British carrier Vodafone Inc., is its first open source mobile phone, running on “Vodaphone 360,” built on the the Linux for Mobile, or LiMo, platform.

● Samsung Delivers Linux Handset to Vodafone

Samsung Electronics will supply Linux-powered mobile phones to Vodafone, the world's largest wireless carrier, company officials said Friday.

The Vodafone 360 H1, a ``smart'' phone that enables Web browsing and multimedia features atop of voice, is the industry's first commercial handset using the latest version of the LiMo operating system, Release 2.