CeBIT 2000 Ericsson and NatSemi have unveiled a Linux Internet appliance based on the NatSemi Geode WabPAD platform. The device's appearance at CeBIT follows on from the first signals that NatSemi was pushing into Linux territory with WebPAD last October - a further indication of where NatSemi thinks it's going is that it announced it had licensed Citrix ICA for Linux on WebPAD yesterday. The Ericsson demo unit at CeBIT doesn't seem to come with a ship date, but as its handlers are boasting about the "fast development time" it ought to be soon. It uses the Geode GXLV processor, which combines sound, graphics, memory controller and PCI interface on the one chip. It also incorporates voice over IP technology, and is aimed at allowing users access to email, the Internet and telephony all from the one dinky little portable device. Meanwhile the predicted waves of Taiwanese companies supporting Transmeta's Crusoe and Mobile Linux for information appliances seems strangely silent. But Ericsson's opposition, Nokia, which has been demoing Linux appliances for a while now, is being tipped at the show to join the Crusoe camp RSN. ® CeBIT 2000: Full Coverage