Intel Rolls Out Chip Upgrades for Wi-Fi
SAN FRANCISCO — Intel Corp. on Wednesday introduced a new package of chips for wireless laptop computers, a move meant to increase the company’s dominant position in notebook computers and expand its foothold in the consumer market.
The world’s largest chip maker, based in Santa Clara, Calif., made the announcement in San Francisco, joined by representatives of several notebook manufacturers.
The chip package includes a faster laptop microprocessor and technology that allows more rapid communication with memory and peripherals. It also provides high-definition video and theater-like sound that have been available only in desktop computers.
About 80 new laptops from Dell Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., Gateway Inc. and other manufacturers are coming out with the new Intel technology this week and next week -- some for under $1,000. More than 150 new laptop models using the technology are expected by the end of the year.
Intel, which has about 80% of the global market in processors for personal computers and a similar share of the market for laptops, introduced its first wireless chips-and-chipset package in March 2003. Dubbing it Centrino, the company advertised that it meant smaller, faster laptops with longer battery life in a $400-million marketing campaign aimed at business users.
Intel’s new chip package, also sold under the Centrino brand name, will be marketed to consumers as well, seeking to attract buyers hungry for more powerful laptops.
“It’s very intelligent for Intel to move [Centrino] into a segment of the market they have not previously targeted, which is consumers,” said David Wu, an analyst with Global Crown Capital, a brokerage in San Francisco.
“In terms of technology, it’s an evolutionary step, but in a business sense it’s a very big move to tap the consumer market,” Wu said.
The aggressive rollout also underscores the competition among computer makers to provide the latest wireless technology, which is gaining increasing popularity among laptop users.
Wireless capability, also called wireless fidelity, or Wi-Fi, allows users to surf the Internet without any cable connections. Virtually 100% of laptops sold in 2007 will have built-in Wi-Fi, said Mooly Eden, vice president of Intel’s Mobility Group.
The new version of Centrino, called Sonoma by Intel internally, adds faster access to the computer’s onboard memory as well as to peripheral products such as external storage devices. It also incorporates improved graphics rendition and SurroundSound 7.1, the latest high-fidelity sound technology, both of which will be of interest to dedicated game players, Eden said.
Dell, the world’s bestselling PC brand, on Wednesday introduced the Inspiron 6000 with the new Centrino technology for $989 after a promotional discount.
Toshiba Corp. unveiled a pair of Tecra notebooks starting at $1,100, both aimed at business users.
“Now we’re at a point where the bar for performance has been raised, particularly for small and medium businesses whose owners want mobile computers they can also use for personal entertainment,” said Margaret Rea, a manager in Toshiba’s Computer Systems Division.
