Intel to Re-Enter the Mobile Phone Semiconductor Market

Semiconductor giant, Intel is preparing to re-enter the mobile phone market as smartphone sales rise and data intensive services increase in popularity. Intel's CEO, Paul Otellini told the Financial Times newspaper that as mobile phones become more powerful and adopt computer based applications, then the company can make inroads into the mobile phone market.

"If you accept that the value proposition of the high end of the mobile phone market is full internet access that happens to have voice, my view is that it's easier to add voice to a small computer than vice-versa," he said in an FT interview.

The company aims to start by pushing its low energy consumption Atom chips - and will launch a mobile optimised version (code-named, Pineview) late next year. The company withdrew from the mobile handset market in 2006 when it sold its XScale division to Marvell Technology Group.

Intel's Atom is the brand name for a line of x86 CPUs, previously code-named Silverthorne and Diamondville processors, designed for a 45 nm CMOS process and intended for use in ultra-mobile PCs, smart phone and other portable and low-power applications.

Mr Otellini also expressed confidence that the Clearwire/Sprint Nextel joint venture to build a US-wide WiMAX network is on schedule and would launch commercial services later this year. Intel is an investor in the joint venture and significant backer of the WiMAX technology platform.

On the web: Financial Times

Posted to the site on 2nd June 2008