OSGi Alliance and Five High-Tech Companies Pledge Royalty-Free Access to Patents for Accelerating Global Adoption of OSGi Technology

Strategic Insights -

The OSGi Alliance and five high-technology companies, including OSGi members Gatespace Telematics, IBM, Nokia, ProSyst Software, and Samsung, have announced a joint pledge to provide royalty-free access to necessary patents for the implementation of OSGi Service Platform Release 4. This move aims to speed up the adoption of OSGi technology worldwide, enabling a service-oriented, component-based environment for developers and providing standardized ways to manage the software lifecycle.

Key Takeaways:

  • The OSGi Alliance and five high-tech companies, including OSGi members Gatespace Telematics, IBM, Nokia, ProSyst Software, and Samsung, have pledged to provide royalty-free access to necessary patents for the implementation of OSGi Service Platform Release 4.
  • The technology creates a service-oriented, component-based environment for developers and provides standardized ways to manage the software lifecycle, increasing the value of a wide range of computers and devices that use the Java platform.
  • The OSGi Service Platform allows developers to create sophisticated, component-based solutions and then assemble compatible software components on a customized, "just-in-time" basis, providing a standardized, dynamic module system for applications and services that use the Java platform.
  • Users can manage the lifecycles of software components, which can be installed, assembled, updated, combined with other functions or removed "on the fly" -- without disrupting the operation of a device.
  • The patent pledges will help the broader OSGi community develop and enhance new and existing software affordably, transparently, efficiently, and reliably, promoting adoption of the OSGi Service Platform Release 4.
  • The OSGi Service Platform is used in various industries, including mobile devices, vehicles, embedded appliances, residential gateways, industrial computers, desktop PCs, and high-end servers, including mainframes.
  • The alliance's vision is to become a leading company in the digital-convergence market where the Internet, wireless communications, networked systems, and contents will be united.

Statistics:

  • Six organizations are involved in the patent pledge: the OSGi Alliance and its members Gatespace Telematics, IBM, Nokia, ProSyst Software, and Samsung.
  • The OSGi Service Platform Release 4 is the industry-leading component software standard for networked computers and devices.
  • The platform is used in over 20 industries, including mobile devices, vehicles, embedded appliances, residential gateways, industrial computers, desktop PCs, and high-end servers.
  • The OSGi Service Platform provides a standardized, dynamic module system for applications and services that use the Java platform.
  • The platform allows developers to create sophisticated, component-based solutions and then assemble compatible software components on a customized, "just-in-time" basis.

Sources:

  • The OSGi Alliance (http://www.osgi.org/)
  • Gatespace Telematics (http://www.gatespacetelematics.com/)
  • IBM (http://www.ibm.com/us/)
  • Nokia (http://www.nokia.com/)
  • ProSyst Software (http://www.prosyst.com/osgi.html)
  • Samsung (http://www.samsung.com/)
  • Stan Moyer, President, OSGi Alliance (http://www.osgi.org/products/non-assert.asp?section=3)