Both Compaq and Symbian have endorsed Intel’s Personal Internet Client Architecture (PCA) initiative, described as a blueprint for developing wireless devices that combine voice and Internet capabilities.

Symbian has agreed to port the Symbian OS to the application processing engines employed by the Intel PCA, including the Intel StrongARM processor and future processors based on Intel Xscale microarchitecture. For third-party developers, the companies will jointly develop design guides for working with Symbian OS and Intel PCA; offer Symbian operating system tools with Intel PCA software developer kits; and host educational and technical sessions at the Intel and Symbian conferences.

Compaq said it will work along side Intel to strengthen the multimedia capabilities on Intel PCA-based devices. In addition, the handset manufacturer has agreed to the use of Compaq iPAQ PocketPCs as reference platforms for Intel PCA developer kits. The iPAQ handheld is based on Intel StrongArm processor.

Commenting on the agreement, Compaq’s vice president and general manager Sean Burke, said that the company will continue to work with "Intel to provide developers with information and tools to create high-performance, multimedia-rich personal Internet devices" that will run software and services over the next-generation of networks.

For more information: http://www.intel.com