Intel buys OpenedHand

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Intel has acquired London-based Linux developer OpenedHand for an undisclosed sum.

In a statement, OpenHand said that it will be joining Intel's Open Source Technology Centre and will focus on the development of the Moblin Software Platform, an optimised software stack for Intel Atom processors.

The Atom processor is the chip that Intel hopes will underpin a new generation of mobile internet devices (MIDs). The chip has already found success in the new netbook form factor and is used in devices such as the Acer Aspire Oneand MSI's Wind U100.

OpenedHand said that in conjunction with the Intel deal it would continue to work on its existing projects such as Clutter and Matchbox. Matchbox is a GPL licensed base environment for the X Window System targeting mobile platforms with small displays and low system resources and was used by in the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) machine.

OpenedHand's other clients include Nokia, which it worked with on the Nokia N770 Internet Tablet, and its successor, the N810.

This is another example of a Linux community becoming attached to a mainstream provider,” said Rob Bamforth, principle analyst at Quocirca.

“Earlier in the year we had Trolltec and Nokia getting together. Previously, Linux innovation was fragmented and now its becoming bigger.

“This represents Intel dealing with the wider issues of the platform," Bamforth added. “In a mobile device you've got signals, video, communications, and all of this has to happen at as low power as possible, so you want as much efficiency as possible. This will help Intel make its MID platform more efficient from both mechanical and user perspectives”.

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