Intel acquires embedded Linux specialists

Intel has acquired embedded Linux specialists OpenedHand. The London based company, with offices in Paris and Helsinki, offers software development and services in the mobile embedded Linux field.

OpenedHand maintains a number of open source projects such as Matchbox, an X Window manager for small devices, and Pimlico, a compact personal information manager. Intel say that it will continue to support these OpenedHand led projects. The company, which describes itself as "Kind of like the 'Millenium Falcon' of FLOSS or worst case an ewok village", has a client list that includes Nokia, the One Laptop Per Child Project, OpenMoko and ST Microelectronics. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The OpenedHand team are joining the Intel Open Source Technology Center and will be focussing on development of Moblin. Intel launched the Moblin project last year, to develop Linux for Intel based mobile Internet devices and vehicle based applications. Intel has promoted Moblin as an alternative free operating system for Intel Atom-based systems often found in Netbook class systems. Earlier this year, Intel and Wind River announced they were cooperating in developing Linux for automotive applications.

(djwm)