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MeeGo launched by Nokia and Intel

Nokia and Intel have released the first code from MeeGo, their first joint mobile device Linux project. It is seen as an effort on their part to challenge Android, by Google.

The joint project was announced three months ago, and now the two IT companies have launched MeeGo 1.0. MeeGo for touch-based phones, tablets and in-car devices is due to come out in June and MeeGo 1.1, which will also have code for netbooks, is due to launch in October.

Intel has said that MeeGo 1.0 offers a stable basis for application development and will deliver a rich user experience for netbooks.

It seems that Nokia and Intel are determined to ensure that MeeGo is a success. Announced back in February, it combines the companies' Maemo and Moblin Linux projects and they talking tough, it has been reported, with regard to patent protection.

MeeGo 1.0 is based on the 2.6.33 Linux kernel. It has the next-generation BTRFS file system, Nokia’s Qt 4.6 SDK, and will also feature a number of other operating system tools.

According to Intel, users will benefit from a “fast and rich” internet experience using Google Chrome, and the MeeGo Handset will use Mozzilla’s Fennec browser.