Intel brings Android to Atom smartphone processors

Intel's message to Android: meet Atom.

The semiconductor company announced that it married Google's Android platform to its Atom smartphone processor, a further indication that Intel intends to challenge ARM Holdings in the smartphone chipset market.

Renee James, the general manager of Intel's software and services group, told IDG News Service the company ported the platform to its Atom processor, and that customers expressed interested in the solution. James also indicated Intel is looking to broaden the reach of its mobile efforts by opening to more smartphone platforms. "Intel is enabling all OSes for Atom phones," she said.

Analysts have noted Intel's progress in moving from the PC world to the mobile market, and contend that, in time, Intel could pose a challenge to ARM. In February, Intel and Nokia announced a new Linux-based software platform that will combine Intel's Moblin and Nokia's Maemo efforts into an initiative called MeeGo.

Android was originally built to be used with ARM processors, but Android licensees have used the open-source platform on other chipsets. Acer put Android on Atom-based netbooks last year, for example.

For more:
- see this IDG News Service article

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