Chip-maker looks for growth in mobile-computing market

By RICHARD WOOD

Chip giant Intel hopes a combination of new notebook technology and a global marketing push will lead to greater use of mobile computing.

The new technology package called Centrino dramatically increases the battery life of notebook computers, boosts processor performance and builds in "Wi-Fi" capability for wireless high-speed internet access.

At the Sydney launch of Centrino, Intel general manager David Bolt distinguished between "portability", where notebooks were moved from one desk to another, and true "mobility", where you effectively take your office with you.

The Centrino is the first processor and chip package Intel has created from the ground up for notebook use, rather than creating low-power versions of desktop processors.

At the core of Centrino is the new Pentium M processor and related chipset. Intel says battery life is now five hours, up from three hours for the previous Pentium 4 mobile range.

Intel also claims a 15 per cent faster performance for office applications and a 13 per cent improvement for internet applications for the Pentium M, when compared with the Pentium 4 mobile.

Intel is spending US$300 million ($549 million) promoting Centrino wireless computing globally and encouraging the development of wireless "hot spots" in places such as cafes and airports.

Centrino laptop users who are within 100m of a hot spot access point will be able to surf the internet or sign on to corporate networks. Research firm IDC predicts there will be 118,000 hot spots globally by 2005.

The Centrino push shows Intel is throwing its weight behind Wi-Fi wireless technology, which had suffered from fragmented development.

Centrino-based notebooks are expected to cost about the same as previous models. Toshiba has confirmed it will have Centrino notebooks in New Zealand from the first week of April.

* Richard Wood travelled to Sydney as a guest of Intel.