hybrid blackberry os

Intel-Nokia's Meego Platform For Future Smartphones

Technology giants Intel Corp. and Nokia Corp. have merged their Moblin and Maemo to create MeeGo operating system, which will blur the line between a robust mobile phone OS and a lightweight netbook operating system. MeeGo will be an open ecosystem that will be based on Linux platform that will support multiple hardware architectures across the broadest range of device segments, which include small mobile computers, tablets, netbooks, smartphones, etc.

Moblin + Maemo = MeeGo

Both companies said that the new MeeGo platform will be a hybrid of two operating systems. The first one is Nokia's Maemo, which recently released with the Nokia N900 M.I.D. The other one is Intel's Moblin, which is the operating system targeted for netbooks. Both platforms are open-source and Linux-based, as MeeGo will be.

MeeGo will support ARM architectures, which are presently used in advanced smartphones & smartbooks and Intel's Atom processor. It is reported that the first devices would launch in the second half of 2010. The platform will be hosted by the Linux Foundation and both companies expect it to be picked up widely by various device manufacturers, network operators, semiconductor companies, software vendors and developers.

It is expected that the new platform will provide challenge to Google’s Android, RIM’s Blackberry, Symbian, Palm’s WebOS and Microsoft’s Windows Mobile platform. Using Qt environment, developers can create apps for various devices and market them via Nokia's Ovi Store and Intel AppUpSM Center.

MeeGo will develop a new category in OS?

It is predicted that the MeeGo platform will accelerate industry innovation and time-to-market for a wealth of new Internet-based apps & services, and exciting UIs. Further, the platform will create a new category for operating system as it will support wide range of gadgets and devices.

Recently, various other vendors like Apple have introduced its iPhone operating system with its iPad. Various vendors, like HP has adopted Windows 7 Starter onto tablets and Android on netbook/smartbook. Lenovo has also developed its own operating systems for the Skylight smartbook and IdeaPad U1.

Intel-Nokia relationship

Both biggies had joined hands for strategic collaboration in June 2009. Meanwhile, in the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the announcement will strengthen their relationship. Intel and Nokia now welcome participation in MeeGo from existing Maemo and Moblin global communities and across the communications and computing industries.

MeeGo will compete with Microsoft Windows Mobile 7

The launch of MeeGo is accompanied with the launch of Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 7 and the Redmond giant must be quite annoyed by the fact that Intel, its long time partner, has now committed human and financial resources to a competing mobile platform that could one day transform into a desktop rival, taking on its Windows operating system.

Discussion

According to both companies, MeeGo will integrate the best of Maemo with the best of Moblin to create an open platform for multiple processor architectures. It is expected that the new platform will provide rich graphics, multitasking and multimedia capabilities along with enhanced UI framework for software developers.