Global consumer electronics leader joins at Gold level to help inform the direction of embedded Linux and open compliance initiatives
SAN FRANCISCO, March 9, 2011 – The Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of Linux, today announced that Panasonic is joining the organization as a Gold member.
The Linux Foundation merged late last year with the Consumer Electronics Linux Forum (CELF), of which Panasonic was a founder. CELF members were grandfathered into The Linux Foundation at the Silver level. With work on embedded Linux and open compliance accelerating, Panasonic chose to increase its level of work and commitment to The Linux Foundation at the Gold level of membership.
Gold membership is the second-highest corporate membership tier at The Linux Foundation. China Mobile was the last member to join at the Gold level just last November.
“For more than 90 years, we’ve been committed to pushing the limits of innovation in consumer electronics,” said Kazuo Kajimoto, Director, System Engineering Center, Panasonic. “The rise of Linux in our market gives us new opportunities to push those limits. By joining The Linux Foundation, we will be able to work directly with the people and companies who can help us maximize this technology for next-generation devices and technologies.”
Panasonic will participate in embedded Linux initiatives, such as the Consumer Electronics (CE) Workgroup (the successor of CE Linux Forum) and the Yocto Project, and will attend the Embedded Linux Conference in April. It will also participate in the Open Compliance Program, as well as collaborate with other companies at the Linux Foundation Legal Summit(s).
“Panasonic’s increasing commitment to Linux is certainly another representation of how important the Linux operating system has become in the consumer electronics market,” said Jim Zemlin, executive director at The Linux Foundation. “Panasonic will provide importance perspectives on how embedded Linux and compliance work should mature in the months and years ahead.”
About The Linux Foundation
The Linux Foundation is a nonprofit consortium dedicated to fostering the growth of Linux. Founded in 2007, the organization sponsors the work of Linux creator Linus Torvalds and promotes, protects and advances the Linux operating system by marshaling the resources of its members and the open source development community. The Linux Foundation provides a neutral forum for collaboration and education by hosting Linux conferences, including LinuxCon, and generating original Linux research and content that advances the understanding of the Linux platform. Its web properties, including Linux.com, reach approximately two million people per month. The organization also provides extensive Linux training opportunities that feature the Linux kernel community’s leading experts as instructors. Follow The Linux Foundation on Twitter.
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Trademarks: The Linux Foundation, Linux Standard Base, MeeGo and Yocto Project are trademarks of The Linux Foundation. Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds.