Date: 24/06/2009

Intel processor chips inside Nokia phones

Mobile phones or such portable electronics gadgets got to operate with a small battery for days. So the semiconductor devices inside should be extremely smart in consuming power. The processor to handle media content and telecom software should run fast but by consuming power in the range of milliwatts,
So far ARM based semiconductor chips were most preferred by mobile phone makers like Nokia and Ericsson for their ability to deliver performance at low power. Intel with more focus on PC and server market was least successful in this future market where mobile phone is not a mere phone, it's a hand held computer. Intel is now applying rocket-force thrust in its attempt to gain upper hand in portable electronics market.

The immediate significant win for Intel is, number one mobile phone maker Nokia is shaking hands with Intel to develop new class of Intel Architecture-based mobile computing device and chipset architectures.

The joint vision is beyond phones, it covers notebooks and netbooks. In this group if Microsoft enters, it's a repeat of PC success for these companies. With such collaboration, all the PC plus phone features will funnel down easily into a handheld electronic gadget, which is always connected wirelessly to Internet but in a pocketable form factor. But Intel and Nokia seem to take the path of open source software Linux, which is also good to the end customer.

The Intel and Nokia effort includes collaboration in several open source mobile Linux software projects. Intel will also acquire a Nokia HSPA/3G modem IP license for use in future products.

Both said, they expect many innovations to result from this collaboration over time.

"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," said Anand Chandrasekher, Intel Corporation senior vice president and general manager, Ultra Mobility Group. "With the convergence of the Internet and mobility as the team's only barrier, I can only imagine the innovation that will come out of our unique relationship with Nokia. The possibilities are endless."

"Today's announcement represents a significant commitment to work together on the future of mobile computing, and we plan to turn our joint research into action," said Kai Öistämö, Executive Vice President, Devices, Nokia. "We will explore new ideas in designs, materials and displays that will go far beyond devices and services on the market today. This collaboration will be compelling not only for our companies, but also for our industries, our partners and, of course, for consumers."

Open Source Software coordinating partners include oFono, ConnMan, Mozilla, X.Org, BlueZ, D-BUS, Tracker, GStreamer, PulseAudio.