While Intel is looking to position its low-power x86-based Atom Z500 processor family to challenge ARM-based processors in the mobile device market, ARM is returning the favor by aggressively developing a complete platform to challenge Intel in the netbook segment, with ARM’s current focus being on strengthening its mobile computing software ecosystem.
In line with such a strategy, ARM has announced that Canonical, the commercial sponsor of Ubuntu, will bring the full Ubuntu desktop OS to the ARMv7 processor architecture. ARM noted that the development was driven by demand from device manufacturers, and a complete hardware and software solution would increase the likelihood that Taiwan ODMs, which dominate hardware development in the global notebook market, would develop netbook type devices based on an ARM platform.
The Ubuntu ARM distribution for desktops and netbooks will be officially available from April 2009, and will target the ARMv7 architecture including ARM Cortex-A8 and Cortex-A9 processor-based systems.
One other area ARM has been challenged by its competitors is the lack of support for Flash software on the ARM platform. However, sources in Taiwan indicated that ARM should soon be making breakthroughs in that area as well.
