Freescale Semiconductor is supporting the Android operating system on its Power Architecture based microprocessors.
The move is significant because it seems that Freescale has recognised the importance of the Android OS outside the mobile handset market.
It sees applications for its processors running Android in industrial applications and touch screen interfaces for system controls.
Freescale is not the first processor firm to see potential for Android outside of the mobile phone market, for which it was originally created by Google last year.
MIPS is targeting high-end consumer products such as digital TVs and set-top boxes for its Android port.
See: MIPS joins Open Handset Alliance in Android push
Freescale’s platform for the Android OS will initially run on the MPC8536E PowerQUICC III processor and uses the Mentor Graphics implementation of the Android OS on Power Architecture technology.
The MPC8536-ADK will be shipped preconfigured with an Android runtime and demonstration applications.