Aava Mobile Debuts Atom-Based 'Open' Mobile Device

MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS — Aava Mobile launched Tuesday a reference design for OEMs and carriers for an open mobile device based on Intel’s Atom processor that eliminates the tradeoffs between smartphones and tablet PCs capabilities.

Startup Aava Mobile was founded in 2009 by a team of engineers who wanted to build an open-source mobile device platform. The resulting reference design enables system manufacturers and carriers to customize hardware and software, and tap into established developer communities.

The reference design is based on Intel’s Atom processor-based platform, codenamed “Moorestown,” which is designed for the handheld, smartphone and tablet market segments. In addition, it provides support for Linux-based Moblin 2.1 and Android OSs today, with plans to support MeeGo in the future. Earlier this week, Intel and Nokia announced MeeGo, a merger of the Linux-based Moblin and Maemo software platforms with a goal to enable an open software environment for rapid development of exciting new user experiences.

“There is so much creativity that can be harnessed when you free yourself from the confines of a proprietary design and give developer communities an open platform and some tools to play with. So Aava Mobile saw an opportunity to make an entirely open mobile device,” said Markus Appel, CEO of Aava Mobile. “Based on the Intel Moorestown platform, the Aava device delivers an outstanding performance and user experience. We are open on the hardware side with our standardized I/O ports and the ecosystem of peripheral docking devices that openness encourages, and we are open on the software side with our Moblin and Android operating systems.”

Aava Mobile has sponsored a competition to design an ecosystem of hardware docking peripherals to tailor its devices for specific vertical industries and functions. A gallery of these designs can be found at http://www.aavamobile.com/ecosystem.php.

Functioning Aava Mobile devices measure 64mm by 125mm and only 11.7mm thin and can last an entire day on one battery charge.

“The Intel Moorestown platform will deliver industry-leading performance at dramatically low power levels and is designed to enable a compelling user experience in the next generation of smartphones and sleek tablet designs,” said Pankaj Kedia, director of global ecosystem programs in Intel’s Ultra Mobility Group. “Aava’s reference design is an excellent example of what is possible with the Intel Moorestown platform across Linux-based Moblin and Android OSs.”