Mobile Internet devices (MIDs) have been around for years, but have not become any popular. In a yet another attempt to make MIDs competitive, LG Electronics and Intel Corp. today announced a collaboration around mobile MIDs  based on Intel's next-generation MID hardware platform, codenamed Moorestown, and Linux-based Moblin v2.0 software platform.

Moorestown is the codename for Intel's second-generation MID platform, which consists of a system-on-chip (codenamed "Lincroft") that integrates a 45nm Intel Atom processor core, graphics, video and memory controller. The platform also includes an input/output (I/O) hub, codenamed Langwell, that includes a range of I/O blocks and supports wireless solutions.

Intel's Moorestown-based MIDs are expected to reduce idle power consumption by a factor of greater than 10 versus today's Intel Atom processor-based MIDs. Additionally, the Moorestown platform will be accompanied by a newer Moblin software version, Moblin v2.0, that is based on the Linux operating system. This software is designed specifically to deliver a great PC-like Internet experience while also supporting cell phone voice capabilities.

The "Moorestown" platform is expected to come to market by 2010. The LG device is expected to be one of the first Moorestown designs to market.

In order to offer a variety of network connections and Internet access, LG is also working with Ericsson to bring 3G network capability to its planned MID. This is an extension of the existing collaboration between the companies. LG has been supplying notebooks and netbooks with mobile broadband modules from Ericsson since the third quarter of 2008.

“The MID segment will drive growth at LG Electronics. We chose Intel's next-generation Moorestown platform and Moblin-based OS to pursue this segment because of the high performance and Internet compatibility this brings to our service provider customers. The collaboration with Intel on the MID platform has been valuable and further extends our longstanding relationship. Our efforts are well on track and we look forward to bringing the MID to market,” said Jung Jun Lee, executive vice president of LG Electronics and head of its mobile communications business division.

Tags: Intel, Atom, Moorestown, LG