Future Android Builds Will Support Intel's Atom

Future versions of Google's Android Os will support Intel's Atom E-Series SoCs, both of which is expected to arrive in devices sometime during the first half of 2012.

MarketWatch reports that Intel and Google have formed a partnership that will see future releases of Google's Android OS optimized for Intel's Atom E-Series. Intel reportedly hopes that this move will help propel the company into a mobile sector currently dominated by ARM's mobile architecture.

The partnership between Intel and Google was revealed Tuesday during the Intel Developers Forum by Intel Chief Executive Paul Otellini and Google's senior vice president of mobile Andy Rubin. The duo indicated that future versions of Android won't necessarily focus on the Atom SoC, but will support the x86-based architecture along with other architectures already saturating the mobile market.

Tuesday Otellini also said that Intel has made "real progress" in its attempt to enter the smartphone sector, and expects to see the first wave of devices sweep the market within the first half of 2012. "Every time we collaborate with Google, good things come out," Otellini said. "I'm excited and have high expectations around this as well."

In addition to x86 support in Android, Otellini also showcased new technology slated for Q4 2011 that will allow users to have the same experience across multiple devices. One tech was called "Intel pair and share" which will allow users to link to PCs and access whatever is on the hard drive. Another called "teleport extender" will allow users to access text messages and other alerts on their phones from a linked PC.