Looks like Google’s Android has tons of catching up to do. Besides the huge installed base of Java-enabled mobile phones and Nokia’s acquisition of TrollTech, they now have to contend with the recently announced first 3G capable Linux mobile phone under the sub-$100 category by NXP and Purple Labs.

NXP Semiconductors, the independent semiconductor company founded by Philips has joined with Purple Labs, a supplier of embedded Linux solutions for mobile phones, to announce the release of a 3G reference phone based on Linux at a sub-$100 pricing.

The mobile phone offers the following features:

• Video telephony - videoconferencing with your friends, family or business contacts.
• Multimedia - listen to mp3 music, take photos or videos, record voice memos.
• Broadband Internet - browse the web or download emails at full 3G speed at a high resolution QVGA screen.
• Video streaming - TV news, movie trailers or sports highlights are just one click away.
• Games and applications - Download applications and play right away with the embedded Java virtual machine.
• Bluetooth - wireless technology to share files, photos and music.

The Purple Magic is based on the NXP Nexperia Cellular System Solution 7210, a powerful dual-mode UMTS multimedia platform running on a single-core ARM9. The mobile phone features a fully customizable user interface, from themes, skinning and layout to user flow and dynamics, enabling ODMs to target multiple markets and operators with a single platform design.

Hardware requirements

• NXP 7210 single core chipset (ARM9, 208MHz)
• 64MB RAM
• 128MB Flash (96MB user memory available)

Technical specifications

• 8.5 call hours
• 15 days standby mode
• Weight: 95 g
• Dimensions: 92 x 50 x 15.2 mm (clamshell)

You can read more information fromPurple Labs. Some photos of the Purple Magic 3G Linux-based mobile phone: