Nokia teaming up with Intel for new generation of Linux powered mobile devices

There's no denying that Nokia has been making a big push to reassert its dominance in the face of the iPhone and smartphone threat, and it's done a reasonably decent job with the launch of the Ovi Store and a few new high-end handsets.

But there's also no denying that it's a monumental task it's faced with, and its beleaguered platforms like N-Gage and S60 are struggling to tread water.

A new partnership with Intel might yet change its fortunes, however. Both companies have impressed their respective markets with versions of the Linux operating system - Intel with its Moblin platform, and Nokia with Maemo. So it does seem like a natural step for the two to team up for a new range of mobile internet devices based on the Linux system.

However, this strategic relationship doesn't bode well for continued support of Nokia's Symbian-based S60 platform, which will undoubtedly take a back seat once the popular (and proven) Linux is built around a new, open-source telephony framework the two companies have planned.