Atom (system on chip)

Atom is a system on chip (SoC) platform designed for smartphones and tablet computers, launched by Intel in 2012. It is a continuation of the partnership announced by Intel and Google on 13 September 2011 to provide support for the Android operating system on Intel x86 processors. This range competes with existing SoCs developed for the smartphone and tablet market from companies like Texas Instruments, Nvidia, Qualcomm and Samsung. Unlike these companies, which use ARM-based CPUs designed from the beginning to consume very low power, Intel has adapted the x86 based Atom line CPU developed for low power usage in netbooks, to even lower power usage.

Since April 2012, several manufacturers have released Intel Atom-based tablets and phones as well as using the SoCs as a basis for other small form factor devices (e.g. mini PCs, stick PCs, etc.).

In April 2016, Intel announced a major restructuring, including the cancellation of the SoFIA platform. It was reported by many news agencies that Broxton was cancelled.

In Q1 2014, Intel launched its fully Android compatible smartphone platform Merrifield based on a 22 nm SoC. It was followed by its platform refresh Moorefield in Q4 2014.

While Penwell SoC supports, in addition to Microsoft Windows, both Linux and Android operating systems, Intel has announced that it won't provide support for Linux on Cloverview family of Atom systems-on-a-chip. This announcement has caused strong negative reaction from open source proponents. A few days later Intel issued a statement saying that it has “plans for another version of this platform directed at Linux/Android" The initial Clover Trail platform only supported Microsoft Windows (z27x0 series). The Clover Trail+ platform was later released targeting Google Android (z25x0 series).

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