What about Nokia?
Mobile operator Orange and PC chip giant Intel have announced a strategic agreement for Orange to deliver multimedia services on Atom-based devices, using the Meego software platform.
Until recently, we would have found this coupling utterly incongruous, but now we can think of no better illustration of the convergence of the PC and telco sectors.
While it's conspicuous by its absence in the announcement, seeing as MeeGo is the product of combining Intel's Moblin and Nokia's Maemo, you can effectively throw Nokia into this mix.
Intel and Orange will establish a common framework for applications and services to function across a range of form-factors: phones, tablets and netbooks. Perhaps one of the reasons Nokia isn't named in the announcement is that the benefit for Orange will be increased availability of apps like Orange Maps, which compete directly with stuff you can get through the Ovi store.
However, with Nokia being the first handset maker to get into netbooks - with the Atom-based booklet - it will be interesting to see how this trinity of operator, handset maker and chip company pans out. Another notable omission was any talk of Moorestown so, for now, this is more about bringing mobile apps to netbooks.
"Our collaboration with Intel on the MeeGo software platform will not only ensure a broader choice in terms of screens and devices, but that customers continue to benefit from a consistent user experience delivered through Orange Signature services," said Yves Maitre, SVP of devices at Orange.
"Orange and Intel share a similar vision around digital devices and consumer experiences and our joint work will connect people to the content that matters most, wherever they may be," said Doug Fisher, GM of the systems software division at Intel.
