Intel, Nokia love-in takes Linux mobile

Intel and Nokia have announced a long-term relationship that will see the development of Intel-powered, Linux-based, handheld mobile computing devices.

The deal between the chipmaker and handset manufacturer was announced on Tuesday. Intel and Nokia will collaborate on several open source mobile Linux software projects and Intel will license HSPA/3G modem intellectual property from Nokia, the companies said.

Anand Chandrasekher, the general manager of Intel's Ultra Mobility Group, said in a statement: "This Intel and Nokia collaboration unites and focuses many of the brightest computing and communications minds in the world, and will ultimately deliver open and standards-based technologies, which history shows drive rapid innovation, adoption and consumer choice."

Intel and Nokia will co-operate on developing common technologies for Intel's Moblin and Nokia's Maemo Linux-based operating systems. Moblin is currently under development for use in netbooks, mobile internet devices (MIDs) and other devices, and Maemo is the operating system that Nokia has used for its N800-series MIDs.

In September last year, Nokia said the next version of Maemo would incorporate 3G technology for the first time - until now, devices such as the N810 have relied on wi-fi for their data connectivity.

The companies said in the statement: "Enabling common technologies across the Moblin and Maemo software environments will help foster the development of compatible applications for these devices - building on the huge number of off-the-shelf PC compatible applications.

"The open source projects will be governed using the best practices of the open source development model."

The companies also said they will use open source technologies from Mozilla, oFono, ConnMan, X.Org, BlueZ, D-Bus, Tracker, GStreamer and PulseAudio.

Original article: Intel, Nokia to develop mobile Linux devices from ZDNet UK