Lavenya Dilip

Nokia and Intel will marry their Linux platforms, Maemo and Moblin, and the unified product will be called MeeGo . This joined venture is hosted by the Linux Foundation as a new open source project. The operating System will cover multiple processor architectures and a whole gamut of gadgets such as mobile computers , netbooks, tablets, mediaphones, connected TVs, and in-vehicle infotainment systems.

Intel and Nokia are asking the existing Maemo and Moblin developer communities to support them on this new venture. The main theme of the union seems to be to mitigate challenges posed by device fragmentation especially when it comes to applications. MeeGo being designed for multiple device types, people can retain favorite applications even as they change devices. Using cross platform Qt application, developers would be able to make the apps they author work across MeeGo and other platforms like Symbian. The Apps would then be showcased on both Nokia's Ovi Store and Intel's AppUp Center.

Nokia insists that Meego does not mean that it is losing interest in Symbian. It seems to have categorized Meego as more of a high end platform, while Symbian is being used for mass market smartphones.

The MeeGo-based devices from Nokia and other manufacturers are expected to be launched later this year.

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