Android scored another victory this week, as chip-giant Intel Corp. announced at its Developer Forum in Beijing it had ported Google Inc.’s OS to its Atom microprocessors, the latest move to ensure the tiny chip supports a plethora of operating systems.
SVP and GM of Intel’s software and services group, Renee James, announced the news, noting there was a significant amount of interest in Atom/Android devices.
Up until now, Android has been the darling of mobile-phone processors based on ARM technology, Intel’s big rival in the mobile space, but it would appear the big chip maker is preparing to up the ante of competition with its smaller British rival.
Intel has long been trying to crack into mobile and handsets, but as analyst Jack Gold notes, “early versions of Atom were not very good chips for smartphones and even MIDs,” which is why the firm chose to focus its software efforts on Linux and its own Moblin OS for higher-end devices (netbooks).
But ARM was always on Intel’s horizon, and as Atom continued to mature, the Santa Clara, Calif.-based firm began to at least talk-the-talk of becoming more competitive with ARM-based chips.
And competitive, in today’s mobile market, means having to “play nicely with Android,” according to Gold.
Indeed, Intel has been saying for a while it would make sure it had Android support, and the likes of computer maker Acer have already ported the OS to an Atom-based processor for some of its netbooks, so it has been done before. And will be done again, with Intel claiming several Atom-based Android devices should tip up before the end of the first half of this year.
Suzy Ramirez, an Intel spokeswoman, told RCR the firm was solely interested in providing users with great user experience and choice, and that the decision has no bearing on Intel’s MeeGo partnership with Nokia.
“When we started work on developing [open source OS] Moblin over five years ago, it was because we wanted users to have an experience on a netbook that would take full advantage of Intel’s architecture,” Ramirez explained, adding that the OS’ evolution into MeeGo provided “just one solution.”
“We don’t mind if the operating system is Android, Chrome, MeeGo or anything else, because we are a port of choice and we are open,” she added.
“I see this as a natural progression and a needed opening for a marketplace that continues to endorse Android as an OS not just for phones, but also potentially for other devices (e.g., slates),” chipped in Gold.
But then what of MeeGo, because surely if there is an Android option available, MeeGo quickly becomes a no-go?
“MeeGo is still an option for those companies that want to deploy a device that can be more highly customized than Android,” Gold counters, adding that MeeGo also does well in higher-end devices where more features and functions are included.
Also, “Nokia will be offering product on MeeGo, so Intel is not alone in wanting MeeGo to be a success,” Gold continued.
Intel certainly doesn’t seem to think its recent Android embrace signifies a Judas’ kiss to its Nokia partnered software, either. “We’re confident MeeGo will have a long, healthy lifespan,” the spokesperson stated, noting that the firms were already experimenting with MeeGo car infotainment systems, and MeeGo for smartphones, netbooks, tablets.
Bottom line, “no one is concerned about MeeGo’s lifespan,” she affirmed.
Either way, be it with Android or MeeGo, Intel wins the day, as long as the chip used in any upcoming device is an Atom.
“To a large extent [Intel] is agnostic to the OS, as the firm makes no money on MeeGo – it makes it on the chip,” says Gold.
All in all, this is a nice step forward for Android, a warning to ARM and a smart move from Intel.
