Earlier last week, handset manufacturer, Nokia and chip designer, Intel announced joining hands to offer rich mobile computing devices foreseeing the huge potential for such devices on backdrop of increasing consumer demand for broadband while on the go.

The alliance will lead to Nokia designing mobile computing devices incorporating Intel Architecture and will result in development of a new mobile platform which will evolve beyond the presently available smartphones, notebooks and netbooks. The tie-up promises to offer variety of innovative hardware, software and mobile internet services in a user-friendly pocketable form factor.

Post deal Intel will also acquire Nokia HSPA/3G modem licence to be used in future devices.

"This Intel and Nokia collaboration unites and focuses many of the brightest computing and communications minds in the world, and will ultimately deliver open and standards-based technologies, which history shows drive rapid innovation, adoption and consumer choice," said Anand Chandrasekher, Intel Corporation senior vice president and general manager, Ultra Mobility Group. "With the convergence of the Internet and mobility as the team's only barrier, I can only imagine the innovation that will come out of our unique relationship with Nokia. The possibilities are endless."

"Today's announcement represents a significant commitment to work together on the future of mobile computing, and we plan to turn our joint research into action," said Kai Öistämö, Executive Vice President, Devices, Nokia. "We will explore new ideas in designs, materials and displays that will go far beyond devices and services on the market today. This collaboration will be compelling not only for our companies, but also for our industries, our partners and, of course, for consumers."

Furthermore, the two companies will develop common technologies for use in several open source software initiatives like Moblin, Maemo and alignment on range of key Open Source technologies for mobile computing technologies such as as oFono*, ConnMan*, Mozilla*, X.Org*, BlueZ*, D-BUS*, Tracker*, GStreamer*, PulseAudio*.

For Intel the tie-up opens up potential new segment to tap. Intel, till now was known to be more proactive on the WiMAX front. But the acquiring of HSPA licence from Nokia will allow it to cater to the mobile broadband services market as well which run over 3G network backbone.