Intel supports Android on Atom smartphones
updated 01:20 pm EDT, Tue April 13, 2010
Android now supported by Atom smartphones
Intel on Tuesday greenlit the use of Android for smartphones that use the chipmaker's Atom processors. At the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing, General Manager of Intel's software and services group Renee James said the open-source operating system is already running on Atom handsets, though would not elaborate.
"Intel is enabling all OSes for Atom phones," James said. This is likely being done to help it compete with ARM, which provides the majority of the chips for smartphones.
Intel had to develop special software in order to make the Google-developed Android mobile OS compatible with its x86-based Atom chips. Android was originally developed for ARM chips, but its open source origins mean other hardware makers have adapted it to work on their devices, including netbooks.
Thus far, the only known handset to use Intel's Atom CPU is the LG GW990, though it is expected to run on the MeeGo operating system, which is the result of merging Moblin and Maemo. [via PCWorld]
