Linux will be the fastest growing smartphone operating system over the next five years, according to market experts.

ABI Research predicts that the platform will surge forward with a compound annual growth rate in excess of 75 per cent.

The research firm expects Linux-based operating systems to account for nearly 31 per cent of all smart devices in the market by 2012, representing more than 331 million cumulative shipments over the period.

"Serious initiatives from the likes of Intel and Access are gathering pace and momentum, while the carrier community continues to identify Linux as one of the few operating systems that it intends to support in its long-term plans," said ABI research director Stuart Carlaw.

"Linux is benefiting from growing support in the handset OEM community, most notably Motorola, but also Nokia with less traditional types of devices aimed at mobile broadband applications."

The rise of mobile broadband and the impact this has on device convergence and format plays into the hands of Linux, the analyst believes.

The ABI Research Mobile Linux study noted that the vertical and horizontal fragmentation that has plagued this market continues to be a concern.

The recent patent infringement assertions from Microsoft that Linux, in its generic form, infringes on 235 of its patents is an ongoing issue for Linux adoption.