Intel-powered Android phones coming soon?

Look out, Wintel: Google's Android operating system —already very popular on a wide range of phones— may soon be coming to Intel-powered smartphones as well. Intel's Atom-based Medfield system-on-a-chip (SoC) may be used in upcoming Android smartphones, according to a report on PC World. Intel claims its Medfield SoC promises to make a mobile device speedy and responsive, have fast graphics capabilities, and long battery life. The PC World article dubbed the prospective alliance as "Gootel," referring to the "Wintel" alliance between Intel and Microsoft that helped Intel dominate the PC market. But PC World also noted Intel’s previous Moorestown mobile chips were a flop of sorts because they were seen to consume too much power. But with Intel teaming up with Google to tailor Android to x86 specifications, its smartphone fortunes may change. Good news? PC World said a combination of Android’s popularity with the world's largest chip maker can be a big win for smartphone shoppers, especially if Google’s Motorola acquisition gets government approval. "Google would then own an Android device maker that could work closely with Intel on future versions of Android to further optimize Android devices packing Intel chips for speed, battery life and better graphics," it said. It added Android phone pricing may be driven down thanks to the combination of Android’s popularity and Intel’s massive chip-making capabilities. “It’s a possibility (but) sometimes these strategic partnerships lead to major breakthroughs, and sometimes they go nowhere," PC World quoted Gartner analyst Michael Gartenberg as saying. — TJD, GMA News