Nokia said it will work with Intel to develop a joint software platform for mobile devices, making it easier to create applications that can be used on various types of hardware.

The software will allow the same applications on devices from multiple manufacturers, Kai Oistamo, Nokia’s devices chief, said yesterday at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

The companies will merge Intel’s Moblin and Nokia’s Maemo software platforms to create a new system called MeeGo, supporting devices such as netbooks, phones and tablet computers, Nokia said in a statement.

“The main challenge will be to open MeeGo so that other vendors will be attracted by the new operating system,” said Francisco Jeronimo of analyst firm IDC.

“If Nokia wants to have an operating system that will run on devices by its main competitors, it will have to work with them.”

Nokia and Intel agreed in June to develop a new wireless device and chips.