Palm jumps on the Linux bus for new Treos

Palm announced Tuesday a substantial number of new Treos will boast a Linux-based operating system by the end of the year. Three cheers for open source!

Ed Colligan, Chief Executive of the company released this information Tuesday. He also revealed that Palm had no intentions of discontinuing the current Windows-based Treos; the Linux-based smartphones would be supplemental for the time being.

Palm isn’t the first to make the switch to Linux-based operating systems for its phones; Motorola and others have already adopted Linux for a number of reasons. Linux-based systems are generally regarded as more stable, quicker and more responsive, more open to change and modification, and most importantly inexpensive to produce.

One of the great new features a Linux-based Treo will offer is simultaneous data and voice usage. If Palm is going to keep up with the Jones’s, options like this will be necessities. As more and more smart phones hit the market, switching to faster and easier operating system bases will be essential if Palm intends to keep up with the likes of HTC, Apple, and RIM.

Count on picking up your very own Linux-based Treo late this year, possibly early next year. That is unless, of course, you haven’t already blown your new phone fund on the Apple iPhone…I know I will have.