On Sunday, Intel and LG Electronics announced their plans to collaborate on a novel range of MIDs with high-end smart phone "functionality." The new range would be based on the chip maker's Atom-based hardware platform code-named Moorestown. The two companies said that a mobile Internet device (MID) basically looks and even talks like a smart phone.

MIDs and netbooks are already being produced by LG, which are based upon Intel's low-power Atom processors. It also builds powerful mobile PCs that are developed with more expensive parts from the chip giant, such as its Core 2 Duo chips.

Back in 2008, LG came out with its maiden Atom-based netbook, while initial excitement about the MID category has not been met with enough volume demand in market.

The two companies are now mulling over to build a MID, which basically is a small, handheld computing device that connects to the Internet and also allows users make phone calls.

It has been learnt that the Moorestown platform from Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel might be launched in 2010. It should be noted here it is Intel's second-generation MID platform. This will also widen the System-on-Chip (SOC) architecture, which Intel plans around Atom. The novel SOC processors for Moorestown contains a 45-nanometer Atom with integrated graphics, video and memory controller and is code-named Lincroft.

Various wireless protocols are supported by the platform's I/O hub, which has been code-named Langwell. If adhered to the Seoul, South Korea-based device maker, "LG is working with Ericsson to bring 3G network capability to its planned MID."

This at least points to one thing that these first Atom-based MID/smart phone hybrids might become a hit.

A 10x reduction in idle power consumption on Moorestown against the current generation of Atom-based MIDs is ensured by Intel. According to Intel, "The next version of the Moblin OS was designed specifically to deliver a great PC-like Internet experience while also supporting cell phone voice capabilities."