Intel and Nokia Strike Mobile Partnership, Including Open Source

by Ostatic Staff - Jun. 23, 2009

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Intel is getting very serious about mobile phones and platforms, as evidenced by a far-reaching partnership with Nokia, announced today. The partnership comes on the heels of Intel's acquisition of Wind River Systems, which is a big player in the embedded Linux, and embedded mobile technology space. As part of the new partnership, Intel and Nokia announced their intent to collaborate on numerous open source software projects, and Intel will license Nokia's HSPA-capable 3G modem intellectual property for upcoming mobile products. The goal is "to define a new mobile platform beyond today's smartphones, notebooks and netbooks, enabling the development of a variety of innovative hardware, software and mobile Internet services," according to Intel's announcement.

The announcement adds:

"The effort also includes technology development and cooperation in several open source software initiatives in order to develop common technologies for use in the Moblin and Maemo platform projects, which will deliver Linux-based operating systems for these future mobile computing devices. The companies are coordinating their open source technology selection and development investments, including alignment on a range of key Open Source technologies for Mobile Computing such as: oFono*, ConnMan*, Mozilla*, X.Org*, BlueZ*, D-BUS*, Tracker*, GStreamer*, PulseAudio*. Collectively, these technologies will provide an open source standards-based means to deliver a wealth of mobile Internet and communication experiences, with rich graphics and multimedia capabilities."

Moblin is now hosted by the Linux Foundation, after being launched by Intel, and is headed for devices ranging from smartphones to netbooks, to in-car telematics systems. Maemo is a Linux operating system, mostly based on open source code and powers mobile computers such as the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet.

This sounds like good news for Linux-based platforms, and undoubtedly some of the Wind River technology will boost the effort from Intel and Nokia. As GigaOm reports, it may also mean that Nokia netbooks are imminent. Intel wants to keep its x86 architecture moving in an increasingly mobile market, and will likely put large resources behind its new effort with Nokia.

