With an aim to capture 20 per cent market share in five years, provider of open mobile phone software Azingo will invest USD 50 million to deliver Linux solution to mobile operators.

"We expect to capture up to 20 per cent of the market share in a span of 4-5 years," Azingo CEO Mahesh Veerina said, adding he sees 500 million subscribers using Linux platform on their mobile phones in the same time. The US-based company would offer cost-effective Linux platform based on LiMo Foundation software for small-to-high end users and also tap rural and urban markets.

"The platform features touch screen Internet browsing, web widget applications, audio, video and personalized user applications", he said. The technology has been entirely developed in India with Pune and Hyderabad being the two research and development centres. He said the company has already invested around USD 30 million and would further invest USD 50 million, the platform is still under development and the commercial shipment is expected to hit the markets in the first quarter of 2009.