MWC LG will offer a handheld internet access terminal based on Intel's upcoming 'Moorestown' Atom chip and the Linux software platform the chip giant is sponsoring.

LG has shown off prototype MIDs (mobile Internet devices) at consumer electronics shows around the globe, so it's statement is no great surprise perhaps.

Indeed, until Moorestown ships, the LG MID is still just so much vapourware. Intel's next-gen MID-oriented Atom - the successor to 'Silverthorne' - isn't expected to debut until 2009-2010, according to Intel's past public pronouncements on the subject.

That would imply late 2009 or early 2010, though we note that Intel's recent shift to bring forward its 32nm laptop and desktop chippery suggests that may see it arriving sooner rather than later.

When Moorestown arrives, LG's MID will be "one of the first" devices based on the part to come to market, the South Korean vendor exclaimed.

LG's decision to use the Intel-sponsored Moblin 2.0 distro is interesting given its reliance on Windows XP for its Atom-based netbook, the X110 - reviewed here - though it's not really a true LG product, being instead a rebadged MSI Wind.

Maybe the MID will use one of the internal HSDPA 3G modules Ericsson will be making for Intel.

Moorestown brings more of the chipset onto the main processor die to create a system-on-a-chip called 'Lincroft' with a 45nm CPU, graphics core, video decoder and DDR 3-friendly memory controller.

Lincroft connects to an I/O part called 'Langwell' over a 'Nehalem'-style DMI bus. Langwell will incorporate controllers for USB, PCI Express, ATA peripherals and other system basics. ®