14 DAY TRIAL // When HP bought Palm, it was implied that the latter would continue to function as a smartphone developer, while HP was going to take the webOS platform and adapt it for other products. Whether this will happen or not remains unclear, but what is clear is that some of the more prominent figures at Palm have left the building. This is made completely clear by Intel's latest announcement, in which it reveals that it has just hired Mike Bell.
Mike Bell was originally a vice president at Apple, after which it took the role of vice president and director of Palm's own smartphone side. When Palm was bought off, it was clear that some officials would have to leave the premises, but exactly who did was uncertain. Now, Mike Bell has been hired as vice president of the Smartphone Product Development division, within the chip giant's Ultra Mobility Group (UMG).
According to a report, a note to UMG employees has Intel UMG leader Anand Chandrasekher saying that Bell will help build and lead a team whose purpose will be the creation of smartphone reference designs. He will also have to accelerate the adoption of Intel Architecture on the mobile front. Bell will be responsible for every aspect of product development, strategy and deployment. All in all, this move on Intel's part makes it perfectly clear that it hopes to become a major presence in the smartphone market.
Mike Bell has an intriguing track record already. He was a vice president for Apple between 1991 and 2007, where he helped develop and improve the Apple TV, the iMac and the iPhone programs. Later, at Palm, his team created the Palm PRE and palm PIXI. What remains to be sen is how he will use the experience he has acquired over the years and if he will really manage to turn Intel's technology into a competitive alternative to what the veterans have on sale.