MeeGo, an open source smartphone operating system that was the result of a partnership between Nokia, Intel, the Linux Foundation and 25 other companies (device manufactures and developers,) suffered a blow when Nokia dumped it to choose Windows 7 as its principal smartphone platform. However, Intel is still not backing out, saying that Nokia was just a part of the alliance and that MeeGo is a product of the Linux Foundation.
Intel will showcase a tablet and a smartphone based on MeeGo during the ongoing Mobile World Congress 2011, a mobile trade event in Barcelona.
MeetMeego’s YouTube channel has a video snapshot of a tablet based on the OS. While we do not know the tablet’s details, the video shows a very smooth user interface.
The MeeGo platform is very important for Intel as it wants to be a force in the tablet and mobile space, where it currently has no foothold. MeeGo is designed ground up to support Intel’s Atom Processor family and other new mobile processors from the company such as Oak Trail. Intel will definitely use its clout amongst device manufacturers such as Fujitsu (also part of the MeeGo alliance,) to use the platform to produce smartphones and tablets.