Intel, Nokia Open MeeGo To DevelopersIntel, Nokia Open MeeGo To Developers

Intel and Nokia have opened up the source code of the MeeGo mobile operating system to outside developers.

To date, MeeGo comprises a Linux kernel and OS infrastructure up to the middleware layer. What's available has been placed in online repositories made available Wednesday to open source developers, Imad Sousou, director of Intel's Open Source Technology Center, said on the MeeGo community blog.

Images of the infant OS were also released for Nokia's ARM-based N900 smartphone and for netbooks based on Intel's Atom processor. These images lack a user interface, so are only suited for developers.

MeeGo is the combination of two Linux-based OSes, Intel's Moblin and Nokia's Maemo. Working with the open source community, the two vendors hope MeeGo will become a major OS for mobile devices. The companies envision MeeGo devices eventually competing with smartphone platforms from Apple, Google, and Research in Motion.

However, Intel and Nokia also see MeeGo being used in many devices beyond smartphones. The two companies have partnered with the Linux Foundation in developing an architecture based on a common core that will work across different usage models, such as netbooks, handheld and in-vehicle devices, and connected TVs.

The core comprises various key subsystems, including the core operating system libraries, the communications and telephony services, Internet and social networking services, visual services, media services, data management, device services, and personal services.

Intel and its partners plan to release a finished version of MeeGo in May. Third-party applications will be available for MeeGo devices through Intel's AppUp Center, an online store that will also be open to consumer electronics makers.

Acer, Asus, Dell, and Samsung were the first to partner with Intel in the store effort. They plan to launch their own branded stores based on the AppUp Center client software, which is needed to access the store.

Having an online application store attached to mobile devices is pivotal to their success, analysts say. That's because third-party applications extend the capabilities of the devices. As an example, Apple's success with the iPhone is due in large part to the popularity of the company's App Store.