The Linux Foundation on Monday announced it will host the MeeGo project, the open source software platform for the next generation of computing devices. MeeGo combines Intel's Moblin and Nokia's Maemo projects into one Linux-based platform.

MeeGo, on Monday announced in a joint release by Intel and Nokia, will be deployed across many computing device types -- including pocketable mobile computers, netbooks, tablets, mediaphones, connected TVs and in-vehicle infotainment systems, and brings together the leaders in computing and mobile communications as the project's backers. MeeGo is designed for cross-device, cross-architecture computing and is built from the ground up for a new class of powerful computing devices.

MeeGo will be hosted by the Linux Foundation as a fully open source project, encouraging community contributions in line with the best practices of the open source development model. The Linux Foundation expects MeeGo to be adopted widely by device manufacturers, network operators, software vendors and developers across multiple device types and for many organizations and developers to participate in the project.

"With MeeGo, you have the world's leader in computing -- Intel -- uniting with the world's leader in communications -- Nokia -- in a true open source project hosted at the Linux Foundation," said Jim Zemlin, executive director at the Linux Foundation. "MeeGo has been built from the ground up for rich, mobile devices and will deliver choice to consumers without lock-in. For developers, they will have the power of the Qt platform across a multitude of devices and architectures giving them an incredible opportunity to innovate and reach users."

The Linux Foundation's MeeGo project welcomes contributors and encourages developers and others to get involved at the site or find out more about joining the Linux Foundation at http://www.linuxfoundation.org/meego. Moblin and Maemo contributors are encouraged to participate at MeeGo.com.

MeeGo is working with existing upstream projects such as the Linux kernel, ofono, connman, X.org, D-BUS, tracker, GStreamer, Pulseaudio and others. The companies and projects associated with MeeGo will continue to support those upstream projects. As an open source software platform, MeeGo will help to reduce market fragmentation and complexity, while helping to accelerate industry innovation and time-to-market for a wealth of new Internet-based applications, services and user experiences. Along with MeeGo, the Linux Foundation is working with companies and projects across the mobile/embedded industry to unite and optimize best practices for Linux-based development that will speed time to market and lower costs for companies using Linux-based mobile operating systems. More information can be found at www.linuxfoundation.org/embedded.