China-based device manufacturer ZTE has recently revealed that it has worked out a "strategic partnership" with chip giant Intel, for developing its next smartphone which will be equipped with Intel's latest Atom Z2580 processor.

The partnership that ZTE has struck with Intel will give the Chinese company the ability to use the newest range of smartphone processors from Intel - the 2.0GHz dual core Atom Z2580 processor - which was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) last month.

The Atom Z2580 is one of the three smartphone processors - along with the Atom Z2560 processor, and the Atom Z2520 processor - which were introduced by Intel at the MWC event. The three new smartphone processors from Intel will be called the `Clover Trail+' Atom series of smartphone processors; and will succeed Intel's Medfield mobile processor platform.

The smartphones which ZTE intends building with the Intel Atom Z2580 processor will use the 32 nanometer process, and will boast the Intel specific two threads per core Hyper Threading technology.

About its partnership with Intel, ZTE said in its recent announcement that the move is "an important part of ZTE's strategy for product development, both in terms of time-to-market and in providing customers' with a great handset experience."