Intel, Nokia Team Up to Take On iPhone, Android

Chip-making giant Intel and mobile phone giant Nokia Monday announced a partnership of sorts, melding their two mobile operating systems into one platform: MeeGo. “Simply put, MeeGo heralds a new era of mobile computing,” claimed Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo.

The Linux-based Meego targets a range of mobile companies, including Apple’s iPhone, Google’s Android handsets and even Microsoft. In a slam against Android, Intel vice president Renee James told the New York Times the Google-made platform is too “specific” to be used on a wide range of devices.

In a slightly confusing sidenote, the new platform will support ARM-based processors as well as Intel’s Atom chip. Apple has used ARM processors in the iPhone and will employ a customized version of ARM’s Cortex A9 (known as the Apple A4) in its iPad set for March release.

MeeGo combines Intel’s Moblin operating system designed for low-cost netbooks powered by the chipmaker’s Atom processor and Nokia’s Maemo 5.0, meant to be the handset giant’s push into more smartphones. Nokia and Apple have battled both in the market and the courtroom. Although The Finnish company retains its overall lead, Apple’s iPhone has gradually chipped-away at the handset maker’s dominance.

The first meeGo devices are promised for later this year.

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[Via New York Times, AppleInsider and 9to5Mac]

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