WIRELESS: Gears of a Mobile Itinerary

Intel has outlined plans for next-generation wireless mobility products designed to improve productivity and drive new growth opportunities. The new disclosures include enhancements for the next processor, code-named Dothan; a computing platform based on Intel Centrino mobile technology, code-named Sonoma; and technology for upcoming Intel XScale

technology-based processors for cell phones and PDAs, code-named Bulverde. The company also announced a chipset with new power-saving features and high-performing integrated graphics for mobile PCs based on Intel Centrino mobile technology. Intel’s focus is on initiatives to improve the four key requirements for mobile computing: integrated wireless LAN capability, breakthrough mobile performance, extended battery life and thinner, lighter designs.

According to Anand Chandrasheker, V-P and co-general manager at Intel’s Mobile Platforms Group, “Intel and the industry have delivered on the promise of mobility. More than 130 PC designs based on Intel Centrino mobile technology are expected to be available on the market by the end of this year”. He added that Intel has verified the interoperability of Intel Centrino mobile technology with leading WLAN service providers who operate more than 20,000 hotspots worldwide. 

Intel announced availability of the new Intel 855GME chipset, offering new power-saving features and, when used in combination with DDR-333 memory, delivering enhanced graphics and memory performance for notebook PCs based on Intel Centrino mobile technology. The chipset features Intel Display Power Saving Technology (DPST), which maintains apparent visual experience by managing display image brightness and contrast while adaptively dimming the backlight. 

Intel will continue to enhance mobile PCs based on Intel Centrino mobile technology later this year with 802.11a/b and 802.11b/g wireless networking components and the next-generation Intel Pentium M processor, code-named Dothan. Built using Intel’s advanced > 90-nanometer manufacturing technology, Dothan has smaller transistors and employs a strained silicon technique to enable higher performance headroom. With 140 million transistors, Dothan will also feature micro-architectural enhancements and a 2MB power-optimized, integrated Level 2 cache for faster memory access. Dothan revenue shipments are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

The Sonoma mobile platform for the second half of 2004, based on Intel Centrino mobile technology, will continue Intel’s focus on delivering the best computing experience for mobile PC users. The platform will incorporate a future Pentium M processor; integrated 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN capability, enabling faster wireless communication and support for industry standard security solutions; and a new chipset, code-named
Alviso.

Supporting its computing and communications convergence strategy, in addition to the number of PCs with wireless communications capability, leading cell phones and PDA makers have introduced devices running Intel silicon with the ability to bring higher levels of computing power to communications devices. According to Ron Smith, senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s Wireless Communications and
Computing Group, ”Intel is delivering on convergence with newly available phones
and upcoming technologies. The company is enabling top brand name phone makers to provide new features and services
based on Intel technology and the company’s ability to offer complete solutions. He
added that “Success in delivering converged devices means offering far more than just hardware. It requires
developing an ecosystem of software and tools to bring new and compelling capabilities
and functions.” In addition to the latest Intel-based designs, current and future technologies will enable convergence well into
the future. For example, an upcoming Intel XScale technology based processor, code-named Bulverde, will add camera
phone capabilities and enhance low-power and multimedia performance for cell phones and PDAs. Another example includes the Intel PXA800EF cellular processor, the industry’s first highly integrated chip for EDGE networks. Intel’s communications expertise and ability allows the company to deliver a wide range of wireless support from communications protocols such as GSM and GPRS to EDGE - all based on Intel’s advanced
“Wireless-Internet-on-a-Chip” process technology.

Ibrahim Ahmad