Atom (system on chip)

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This article is about Atom system on chips processors. For the earlier line of Atom processors, see Intel Atom.
In 2012, Intel expanded the Atom processor family with a new system on chip (SoC) platform designed for smartphones and tablets.[1] 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.[2]
Atom competes with existing SoCs developed for the smartphone and tablet market from companies like Texas instruments, Nvidia, Qualcomm and Samsung.[3] 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.
In April 2012, several manufacturers have released Intel Atom-based phones; as a result of testing industry reviewers came to conclusion that Atom SoC-based smartphones can compete both power-wise and performance-wise with currently dominating ARM-based smartphones.[citation needed]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom_(system_on_chip)