LiMo Foundation, a global consortium of mobile industry leaders today announced the Vodafone 360 Samsung M1, the second LiMo compliant device built upon LiMo Platform Release 2 (R2). This latest handset developed by Samsung offers mobile consumers a unique mobile experience presented through Vodafone’s stunning feature-rich, highly customizable Vodafone 360 user interface (UI) – providing a new set of Internet services for the mobile and PC that gathers all of a customer’s friends, communities, entertainment and personal favorites in one place. Following in the footsteps of the Vodafone 360 Samsung H1, the Vodafone 360 Samsung M1 is designed in price and function for a larger segment of mobile consumers.

“LiMo’s independent platform and governance constructs were established to foster the type of collaboration that is evidenced in this second Vodafone 360 device from Samsung, which brings a deeply customized and highly compelling Vodafone 360 experience to a broader range of mobile consumers,” said Morgan Gillis, Executive Director, LiMo Foundation. “These first R2 handsets from Vodafone and Samsung mark the beginning of an exciting period of broad market adoption led by LiMo’s global operators that will usher in a highly-interactive and trusted mobile internet experience for mobile consumers around the globe.”

Powered by the LiMo R2 Platform the Vodafone 360 Samsung M1 brings a cost- and technology-conscious option to mass-market consumers previously locked out of the traditional smartphone market and demonstrates the ability of the LiMo Platform to scale across device profiles. With one of the mobile industry’s most advanced feature sets integrated with sophisticated handset design and an innovative, easy-to-use 3D user interface, the Vodafone 360 Samsung M1 offers an exceptional yet affordable smartphone experience to all consumers.

“One reason Vodafone has chosen to launch our Vodafone 360 service strategy on the LiMo Platform is because it enables us to work within the LiMo ecosystem to bring high-caliber devices and innovative services to our customers,” said Patrick Chomet, Vodafone Group Director of Terminals, and a founder director of LiMo Foundation. “The Vodafone 360 Samsung M1 will revolutionize the way that a broader segment of Vodafone customers access their favorite mobile and social media services through a sleek and user-friendly handset.”

The Vodafone 360 Samsung M1 is in the vanguard of the next generation of LiMo R2 handsets being deployed to markets worldwide by LiMo operators throughout 2009 and 2010. This newest release brings the total number of commercially available LiMo-based handsets to 44, a volume unmatched by any other mobile consortia.

“Samsung is pleased to bring our second handset based on the LiMo R2 Platform to Vodafone customers,” said JK Shin, Executive Vice President and Head of Mobile Communications Division, at Samsung Electronics. “As a leading innovator in the mobile phone marketplace, Samsung will continue to work within the LiMo ecosystem to create and deliver an array of sleek and user-friendly devices to consumers around the globe.”

LiMo Foundation was launched in January 2007 by mobile industry leaders to provide the mobile industry with an open, consistent Mobile Linux-based handset OS, enabling the development of immersive, next-generation mobile consumer experiences. LiMo’s membership includes mobile industry leaders from around the world, including OEMs, technology developers, and 13 global network operators that collectively represent nearly a billion mobile subscribers.