Chipmaker Intel said Monday it's taking the unusual step of working with a phone company to fine-tune cell phones that use its chips.

The arrangement may be the start of a trend for other chipmakers and service providers as the telecom industry seeks to boost revenue.

Intel will collaborate with U.K.-based carrier mmO2, the companies announced Monday. Together they will chose new wireless services that mmo2 will offer for its cell phone, which is based on Intel's PXA 255 processor. Then, the companies will add layers of new software to improve the services, said Intel spokesman Mark Miller.

Other cell phone providers using Intel chips, including AT&T Wireless, may follow suit, Intel said.

This is a break from the usual way chipmakers market their cell phone processors. Usually, a chipmaker supplies its silicon to a handset maker, then disappears from the picture.

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