According to a report from research firm Strategy Analytics, mobile Linux is well-positioned for the surging smartphone market. The report, from Strategy Analytics Handset Component Technologies Service, says that mobile Linux offers an attractive package in terms of customization, cost, developer community, time to market, security and multi chipset support to handset manufacturers and mobile operators.

“Unlike the desktop PC industry there are more than 30 operating systems existing today in the mobile phone industry, over 20 of which are Linux-based,” Sravan Kundojjala, analyst at Strategy Analytics, said in a statement. “This has been a concern for the industry, but recent moves suggest consolidation is in the cards.”

Stuart Robinson, director of the Handset Component Technologies service, added: “Strategy Analytics believes recent initiatives by Google and Motorola could solve problems like consistency of APIs, slow adoption of mobile Linux in developed markets and fragmentation.”

The report also said that interest in Linux is at an all-time high, which will help it compete in the mobile space with current leaders Symbian and Windows Mobile.