Intel Corp. and Google on Tuesday announced that they will work to enable and optimize future versions of Android operating systems for Intel's family of low power Atom processors and Atom-based system-on-chips. This means that future versions of the Android platform will support x86 in addition to other architectures.

"Combining Android with Intel's low power smartphone roadmap opens up more opportunity for innovation and choice. This collaboration will drive the Android ecosystem forward," said Andy Rubin, senior vice president of mobile at Google.

The joint effort is designed to speed time-to-market of Intel technology-based smartphones running the Android platform. Intel will take advantage of the open-source accessibility of the Android platform to provide its customers with technology products that inspire innovation and also help enable powerful personal computing experiences that fully leverage Intel technology across a range of devices. This work will enable mobile device OEMs and wireless operators to take advantage of x86 and tap into the scale of the x86 developer ecosystem to further drive the adoption of the Android platform.

"By optimizing the Android platform for Intel architecture, we bring a powerful new capability to market that will accelerate more industry adoption and choice, and bring exciting new products to market that harness the combined potential of Intel technology and the Android platform. Together we are accelerating Intel architecture and bringing new levels of innovation to a maturing Android platform," said CEO Paul Otellini, chief executive officer and president of Intel.

Today's announcement builds upon the two companies' recent joint initiatives to enable Intel-developed x86 architecture on Google products, which include Chrome OS and Google TV along with the Android software development kit (SDK) and native development kit (NDK).

Tags: Intel, Google, Android, Medfield, Cloverview, Moorestown, Atom, Saltwell, Silvermont, Airmont