Nokia and Intel have become OS bedfellows by announcing at the Mobile World Congress 2010, currently underway in Barcelona, that they’ve combined their two OS platforms, Maemo and Moblin, to create the new MeeGo OS.
 
The new Linux-based software platform will support a range of devices, including pocket PCs, netbooks, tablet PCs, smartphones, as well as in-vehicle internet connected systems. MeeGo combines Nokia’s Qt application development environment, with the capabilities of the Moblin core OS, another Linux OS which Intel has been working on in a move to challenge Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processor by getting its own Atom processor into smartphones and other mobile devices. Developers will be able to create apps once off for a broad spate of devices using MeeGo, but also deploy them across other platforms, including Symbian. They can then market the apps over Nokia’s Ovi Store as well as Intel’s AppUpSM Center.
 
“MeeGo will drive an even wider range of Internet computing and communication experiences for consumers, on new types of mobile devices,” said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, CEO of Nokia. “Through open innovation, MeeGo will create an ecosystem that is second to none, drawing in players from different industries. It will support a range of business models across the value chain, building on the experience and expertise of Nokia, Intel and all those who will join us. Simply put, MeeGo heralds a new era of mobile computing.”
 
MeeGo will be hosted by the Linux Foundation and the first MeeGo-powered devices will be released within the second quarter of this year. Only time will tell though if MeeGo will offer any serious competition for Google’s Android OS and Apple's iPhone.