Number one mobile phone manufacturer Nokia and number one chipmaker Intel are to merge their Linux-based smartphone operating systems in a bid to compete with Google’s Android and Apple ‘s iPhone OS.Nokia will merge its Maemo software platform, used in its flagship N900 phone, with Intel’s Moblin, which is also based on Linux open-source software, the companies announced at the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona.

The resulting new system will be called MeeGo.

The deal does not come as a total surprise: Intel and Nokia first announced plans to collaborate on mobile technology, including Maemo and Moblin, last year (CDN, June 24).

Nokia launched the N900, its first Maemo phone only three months ago, as it sought to compete more strongly in the higher end of the market. The system has also been used in Nokia’s N810 tablet.