Santa Cruz (iTers News) - As the post PC-era finally has just arrived, a new breed of IT devices are proliferating across the world, including smart phones, e-books, iPad-like tablet PCs, and even smart TVs. So are new types of OS, or operating system software, and microprocessor core architectures that are the key bolts and nuts to build them, opening up new market opportunities for OS software makers and microprocessor architecture makers.

Yet, all of them are not necessarily benefiting from what is shaping up as a sea change in the bottom layer of the IT manufacturing ecosystem.

As it will radically shake up the competitive landscape of the two very basic fundamental technologies of every IT device, some stand to gain, while others will lose.

For example, the rapid penetration of smart phones has been breaking up a long-held tight grip by Nokia on OS software for mobile phones, having paved the way for other OS systems-- Apple iOS, MS Windows Phone 7, Google Android, RIM’s Black Berry, Samsung’s BADA to make major forays.

On the other hand, the wider availability of open source Linux-based OS software is opening the way for Intel and MIPS to make a big dent on ARM’s stronghold on core architecture markets for mobile phones, giving ARM core-friendlier chipmakers an alternative to build their microprocessors around MIPS and Intel X86 cores. It is also encouraging Intel to challenge Qualcomm’s rein on MPU, or microprocessor chip markets for mobile phones.

Android comes to the rescue of Intel X86 and MIPS cores

For another, there will be a hotly contested battle for control of OS software and microprocessor chips for tablets PC and smart, or Web TVs. Google is joining the force with Intel to power an array of Google TV platform-compatible devices that run on Google’s Chrome OS, while Intel is mapping out a way to build its Atom-based chip platform to power those Google TV devices.

Meanwhile, Intel is also setting its sights on tablet PCs, working on a chipset platform to power them, while Google’s Android, Windows 7, Nokia’s MeeGo will be contending for supremacy of the rapidly growing OS market for the tablet PCs.

At the heart of Intel’s post-PC era strategy to move beyond PCs is its Atom processor that Intel said will be the very basic foundation of PC-like computing platforms to power a range of post-PC IT devices from smart phones, smart TVs, and tablet PCs.

For example, Intel plans to release its Atom-based Moorestown platform for tablet PCs by year end, and the version for smart phones will be available in the first half of 2011.

The chip titan has also a ramp up plan to build more of chip platforms around Atom processors, including codenames like Pine Trail and Oak Trail for tablet PCs.

Lured by the growth potential of smart phones and tablet PC markets, PC microprocessor chip giant Intel has indeed tried several times to diversify beyond PC markets to make up possible setbacks there with new sources of revenues, but to no avail so far.

 Intel Stakes Out Smart Phones and Tablet PCs as Next Bread Basket

Yet, things are dramatically changing in favor of Intel, as a flurry of open source Linux-based OS software are coming in volume and variety , including MeeGo and Android.

So, Intel can tune its X86 microprocessor core instruction sets to the kernel section of the Linux-based open source software to make its Atom-based platform compatible across a variety of Linux-based OS.

For example, Intel has now X86 core compatible with Android, so that its Moorestown platform can support Android. On top of that, Intel is writing a X-86 version of Android 2.2v Froyo to allow its Moorestown platform run on a wide array of Android OS for smart phones and tablet PCs.

Renee James, a Senior VP at Intel said, “ The fully native X-86 version of Froyo will be available this summer, because all of the code will be fed back into the open branch that will be created for x86."

And, he predicts 2011 will see a yet another flood of generic, Atom-powered Android tablets. The same will goes for the smart phone market, stirring up big ferments in ARM-dominated MPU core markets for mobile phones. In the past, ARM has maintained a strong grip on the market, as the industry leading Symbian OS was written exclusively for ARM core instruction sets. .

Intel’s Moorestown platform also will be able to support Windows Phone 7, Nokia’s MeeGoo OS.

Trying to take advantage of the Linux-based open source Android OS, another core architecture maker MIPS is also struggling to make a big headway into the core market for mobile phones.

“I witnessed massive adoption of Android, the adoption I have never seen before during my 20 years of business. And, why ? That’s because it harnesses the power of Linux and the facts that it is being developed and launched by Google. Moreover, it’s free, “ said Sandeep Vij, president and CEO with MIPS Technologies.

Added he, “We have already had 33,000 of downloads on our formal websites for Android on MIPS. We have already announced mobile chip vendors that are developing mobile chips around MIPS architecture. A big wave is coming in this area, and and we will take a full advantage of it.”

Although MIPS Technologies has maintained a strong presence in core architecture markets for set-top-box, or STB microprocessor chips as well as microprocessor chips for telecommunications equipment, the chip architecture maker has yet to build as strong presence in the mobile devices.

Yet, the Silicon Valley-based chip architecture maker is struggling to ride on the popularity of Android OS to new fame in the mobile phone area.