Intel's recent moves to embrace Linux for its consumer ultra mobile devices is likely to signal a major shift in the battle over web content and delivery, industry experts predict.

According to Gartner, the chip giant's switch to Linux for mobile internet devices moves the personal device argument away from Windows and platform discussions towards web technology.

The move will also shift the focus of the discussion away from the operating system platform and towards content.

"As a result, recruiting strong content and service providers will be a critical success factor for the ecosystem, opening it up to new targeted development," stated a new Gartner research paper.

"At the same time, this move away from an OS/platform focus could lead to a new round of industry battles around web content and service delivery.

"We can imagine a Nokia/Samsung/Intel battle over Linux mini-tablets optimised for the web, similar to Nokia's N800 Linux tablet, or a small cellular-enabled Linux mini-tablet with an innovative user interface which might compete against Apple and the iPhone."

The comments come after Intel recently backed China's Red Flag and Canonical, the supplier of Ubuntu Linux, as its first Linux OS vendors for mobile internet devices.

Gartner noted that the Linux announcement accompanied Intel's introduction of the Ultra Mobile Platform, the silicon to run its ultra mobile PC and the mobile internet device.

Linux support will be available for mobile internet devices with the next generation of the Ultra Mobile Platform, expected in 2008 and code-named Menlow.