Intel and Nokia Answer a Few Questions About Their Partnership.

The Intel and Nokia announcement the other day had us all excited about new devices and Atom-powered smartphones but after the dust has settled its clear that we’re looking at something a little less thrilling. At least in the short term.

It appears to be all about positioning and software to me. Intel and Nokia are sending a strong message out that they will be working hard together in the mobile internet arena and will be sharing software and information. I’m sure that marketing data is in that agreement too.  From my article on Tuesday:

• Nokia and Intel want to co-develop a new class of Intel Architecture based mobile computing devices.
• Collaboration in Open Source projects. (Maemo and Moblin)
• Intel acquire Nokia HSPA device license.
• “Leader in computing. Leader in mobile communications inch coming together.

Having read this Nokia Conversations article though, i’m not so sure about the first point. ‘ inchThis collaboration isn’t a deal to use Intel chips in Nokia devices inch says JBC. So what does it mean when JBC says “The first step in this exciting development is the creation of new device and chipset architectures. inch

For me it appears that the focus is on everything BUT the CPU It’s all about getting the peripheral hardware and radios working under Linux; Specifically Moblin and Maemo. It sounds like Maemo and Moblin will eventually come together at the core level and have the same ‘upstream’ for many of the software packages used within. Maybe they will work on the API/SDK together too. That could be very interesting for developers.

I put a few software-focused questions to Doug Fisher, VP of the Software and Services Group, to see if I could get a bit more detail. I missed the mark on a few of the questions though so i’ll try and get something out of Nokia the next time I see them. Here’s what Doug has to say.

Chippy: Do you see the possibility to merge parts of Moblin and Maemo and consolidate and focus the effort on building one API layer with two (ARM , X86) cores or will the two projects simply share closed code for intel/nokia hardware?

Doug Fisher: What we announced today is a cooperation in several open source software initiatives in order to develop common technologies for use in the Moblin and Maemo platform projects.  This includes alignment on a range of key Open Source technologies for Mobile Computing such as: oFono*, ConnMan*, Mozilla*, X.Org*, BlueZ*, D-BUS*, Tracker*, GStreamer*, PulseAudio*. Collectively, these technologies will provide an open source standards-based means to deliver a wealth of mobile Internet and communication experiences, with rich graphics and multimedia capabilities.  Enabling common technologies across the Moblin and Maemo software environments will help foster the development of compatible applications for these devices building on the huge number of off-the-shelf PC compatible applications.

Chippy: Intel have never had a back-end social networking, contacts, file sharing and app store for Moblin. Do you see Nokia’s OVI effort fitting in here?

Doug Fisher: Please ask Nokia about their OVI plans.

Chippy: How will the Linux Foundation link with Maemo? Will they take stewardship of the Maemo project too?

Doug Fisher: Please ask Nokia.

Chippy: Moblin has a lot of engineers working, Meamo too. What’s the total combined manpower for your mobile software efforts now? Are you the biggest Linux software ecosystem in the world?

Doug Fisher: We are not disclosing specific numbers. We have been working closely with Nokia for years on R&D and this effort extends that relationship. You may assume that this is a substantial effort based on the strategic nature of the engagement and the business opportunities for both companies that lie ahead.  Turning specifically to Moblin, there are thousands of developers taking part in the Moblin project. Fifteen OSVs have announced Moblin-based operating systems and thousands of standard Linux applications run on the Moblin platform.

The message seems to be clear on the software side. The projects oFono, ConnMan, Mozilla, X.Org, BlueZ, D-BUS, Tracker, GStreamer, PulseAudio and going to be worked on together and will be common across Maemo and Moblin.

As for the future, no-one really knows. Nokia and Intel are huddling in the mobile internet space and it looks like Microsoft aren’t going to get a look-in. As many others have said, this is a major win for Linux.