Further potential
Unperturbed by the lack of concrete output since it was first announced over a year ago, the Intel/Nokia strategic relationship continues to give good press conference.
The announcement of the creation of a joint laboratory by Intel and Nokia was deemed worthy of an international conference call yesterday, but embargoed until this morning. While some nice concepts were chucked around on the call, it had the feel of an event prompted as much by the need to maintain buzz as any particularly earth-shattering news.
One of the reasons for our relative ‘meh' on receiving the news is that this new research centre, which will be based at the University of Oulu in Finland, will employ a mere 24 researchers and join Intel's European Research Network, which already consists of 22 sites employing around 900 people.
Still, the stuff it's hoping to come out with looks quite fun. The new site will focus on user inferfaces for mobile device, with an emphasis on 3D. There was talk of mass collaboration and compelling user experiences and the belief that virtual worlds, like Second Life, are the future for mobile communications. There was even talk of a Star Wars-like 3D hologram, which we'll believe when we see.
"We believe that by combining our collective technical expertise, Intel and Nokia can achieve more than either could accomplish alone," said Justin Rattner, Intel CTO, in the press release. "Adding the base of expertise found at the University of Oulu provides an exciting opportunity to collaborate on creating new and innovative research results."
"This new joint research facility is built on the strong relationship between Intel and Nokia, and by focusing our first research project on graphical 3-D technology we're demonstrating our commitment to developing truly original mobile interfaces," said Rich Green, Nokia CTO.
The centre will open this month and will obviously collaborate closely with MeeGo. There were no specifics given about particular products or timescales.
