14 DAY TRIAL // Intel tends to make the news often, for a variety of reason, especially during special events like IDF, and the company is getting attention, this once, for something other than a product announcement.
Intel made a lot of investments over the years, and this is bound to continue for as long as the company still exists.
This once, the Santa Clara, California-based IT giant has chosen Insyde, a company which specializes in software design, based in Taiwan.
At least, this is what this particular, recent report on Digitimes' part reveals.
Intel actually made some investments in Insyde in the past, several times, but even though the total amount was of roughly US$3 million (about 2.1 million Euro), the shares were released in 2007 and 2008.
Now, Intel finds itself in need of assistance in its research efforts regarding the Google Android OS (operating system).
Insyde doesn't have Android research as its primary project, not exactly, since it is focused on PC BIOS research and development.
Still, the company has been developing an operating system called Humanos, based on Android, so Intel's investment will definitely bring some new resources to the giant's fold.
That said, the sum Intel wishes to give Insyde this once is NT$300, the equivalent of US$10.06 million (7.3 million Euro).
In exchange, it will acquire a stake of 8.24%, according to what Digitimes calls “sources form PC players.”
Insyde is supposedly already working towards boosting its research personal for Android, though nothing in the way of specific details was provided.
It remains to be seen if Intel ends up creating its own OS version and if it manages to become a strong competitor to the existing software platforms.
Microsoft is also working on the ARM-supporting Windows 8, so that will be one extra contender to face off against.