Nokia and Intel to develop next-generation user interface in Oulu

New University of Oulu research lab will initially employ a couple of dozen

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The Finnish mobile phone giant Nokia and the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer Intel are joining forces to develop a new three-dimensional user interface for wireless devices.
     
The companies announced on Tuesday the launch of a joint research laboratory set up in connection with the University of Oulu in Northern Finland, in which about two dozen R&D professionals will start developing three-dimensional features and applications for the MeeGo user interface.
      “MeeGo is an important platform for us, on which many of our future products will be based”, says Rich Green, Nokia senior vice president and chief technology officer.
      Despite the fact that only sporadic information has so far been available with regard to the developmental stages of MeeGo, at least according to Justin Rattner, Intel chief Technology Officer and Director of Intel Labs, the developing of the mobile operating system is progressing as planned.
      Rattner refrains from revealing, however, whether 3-D features will be available already with the first version of the interface. Devices utilising MeeGo should become available next spring.
     
MeeGo’s possible success is relying on hopes that the community of developers who are accustomed to working with Intel and Nokia software products would get excited about it.
      “The developers have been pleasantly surprised by the number of various application possibilities, and the feedback we have received with regard to the interface has been positive”, Rattner says.
      The significance of the application developers cannot be underestimated, for they are largely responsible for the development of both professional and recreational services.
      For example Apple’s iPhone’s success has greatly been enhanced by the enormous number of available applications.
     
According to the chief technology officers, hundreds of employees at Nokia and Intel are engaged in the development of MeeGo.
      In addition to the two technology titans, the open source code Linux Foundation is also taking part in the development of MeeGo.
      According to Rattner, the setting up of the laboratory in Oulu is justified because of the university’s previous merits in the field of technology.
      The University of Oulu has been credited for developing for example the realXtend open source platform for interconnected 3D worlds.


Links:
  realXtend open source platform for interconnected virtual worlds
  Intel press release
  The Linux Foundation : MeeGo
  Intel and Nokia: Virtually Engaged (Nokia Conversations Blog)

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