"Intel is asking itself what's next for Linux.

The chip giant recently pulled its disparate efforts to work with the operating system. Those efforts span programs aimed at notebooks, desktops, servers, storage and vertical markets such as telecommunications, together under one roof, creating a Linux Program Office, run by its Software and Solutions Group.

Intel created the office, one of several it maintains for major efforts such as working with Microsoft Corp., as a single point of contact between it and the wider Linux community.

The move comes as Linux is growing in importance to businesses that most often use the operating system on their Intel-processor servers. Thus Intel intends to help make sure the OS runs well on its hardware.

"We said, 'Let's get the team together and be more thoughtful of the way we work with the community,'" said Renee James, vice president of Intel's Software and Solutions Group.

"It's a natural maturing of the way we think about open source and the community," she said. "One thing you haven't seen from Intel is a really strong voice in some of the [open source] communities.""

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1838267,00.asp