ABI Research anticipates that Linux-enabled mobile devices, led by the success of Google’s Android and upcoming Chrome OSs, will comprise 62% of the operating systems shipping in all (non-smartphone) mobile devices by 2015.

“The number of Linux-oriented initiatives recently seen in the mobile industry indicates that Linux will be a key technology in the next generation of netbooks, media tablets, and other mobile devices,” says senior analyst Victoria Fodale.

Despite the growing number of Linux distributions in the mobile market, Linux has a unified base of upstream components, most notably the Linux kernel, says Fodale.

Multiple application ecosystems¾provided by Google’s Android and Chrome OSs, MeeGo, and Palm’s webOS¾ride on top of the unified Linux components. This model enables companies to share the cost of research and development, yet differentiate their offerings in the marketplace.

A new ABI Research study, “Linux for Mobile Devices,” examines the key market issues in the Linux ecosystem, as well as the technology drivers within the mobile device segment. It highlights the strengths and weakness of each mobile Linux platform including architecture, development, applications, and governance models. Detailed regional forecasts of shipments by each Linux-enabled platform are included.

This study only covers the mobile computing device segment; smartphones are covered in the firm’s “Mobile Linux” report.

Both are included in the Smartphones & Mobile Devices Research Service which also bundles other Research Reports, Research Briefs, Market Data products, ABI Insights, ABI Vendor Matrices, and analyst inquiry support.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of emerging trends in global connectivity. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advise thousands of decision makers through 28 research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information, visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.