Archive for April 6th, 2008

Intel’s ATOM To Push Rise Of Mobile Internet Devices

Published by Babar Bhatti on April 6, 2008 under Gadgets, ICT, Mobile Web

Intel has introduce Atom™ processor, a new family of low-power processors designed specifically for mobile Internet devices (MIDs). MIDs are devices which are smaller than a laptop but larger than a cellphone, with cost in the $500 range. Technology analysts and blogs are raving about Atom. About 25 hardware companies have decided to make portable Internet devices using Atom.  The gadgets will start appearing in late May and early June on store shelves in China, Japan and South Korea. According to Intel, China was an early focus because of the activity surrounding the Olympics, with Japan and South Korea both logical next candidates because of their wireless broadband services. More information available at Intel Mobility blog and from a report by WSJ.

Intel, which largely missed out on the market for chips used in cellphones, is using a technology conference in Shanghai to talk up gadgets it calls MIDs, for mobile Internet devices. The company hopes to attract consumers who are frustrated with trying to use the Web on their handsets. The new products, Intel says, match personal computers in their ability to play video and handle some other advanced features of Web sites.

Intel is introducing five Atom chips that draw 0.65 watt to 2.4 watts — compared with 35 watts for one of its typical laptop chips — and carry list prices ranging from $45 to $160. Companies expected to show prototype MIDs based on its chips this week include Lenovo Group Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., Clarion Co. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., maker of Panasonic-branded products, Intel said.

Intel won’t lack for competition. Rivals include companies that make chips for handsets called smartphones, such as Qualcomm Inc. and Texas Instruments Inc. They mainly use microprocessor technology developed by ARM Holdings PLC, and are helping to improve the Web capabilities of cellphones and other devices.

While Mr. Chandrasekher estimated the Atom chips have about twice the calculating power of ARM designs, he acknowledged that ARM still has an advantage in low power consumption. Bob Morris, ARM’s director of mobile computing, added that a coming chip design from the company offers a three-fold boost in computing performance.