Intel Announces Upcoming Mobile Processor and Device Push

At a speech in Beijing today, Anand Chandrasekher, one of Intel's senior vice presidents, outlined processor platforms for a variety of mobile devices that will be coming from his company in the next couple of years.

Among other subjects, Chandrasekher discussed new technologies that will be integrated into its processors for UMPCs and even smaller devices, as well as new mobile products for the sub-notebook category.

Upcoming Ultra Mobile Device Platform Technologies

Intel more clearly defined where its going with the current Ultra Mobile Personal Computer (UMPC) platform in terms of technologies and device form factors.

Intel is using the terms Mobile Internet Device (MID) for smaller non-QWERTY keyboard type devices used specifically browse the Web, while Ultra Mobile Personal Computer (UMPC) is reserved for the larger devices seen today, such as the Samsung Q1.

• First Half of 2007: Intel will be releasing a new platform called Intel Ultra Mobile Platform 2007 (formerly called "McCaslin"). This is based on the Intel processor A100 and A110, the Intel 945GU Express Chipset, and the Intel ICH7U I/O Controller Hub. It is believed that the A100 and A110 processors are based on the Intel Pentium M Dothan chipset used in full-sized notebooks two years ago.

• Apple's iPhone (view large image)

  First Half of 2007: New UMPC devices will be released using the new Intel UMP 2007 platform. The Samsung Q1 Ultra and HTC Shift will both be released and use this. In addition, it is rumored that Apple will also be using one of the new UMP 2007 platform from Intel -- but Apple of course has not said anything regarding this.
• First Half of 2008: Intel will be releasing a next-gen processor platform for UMPCs, built from the ground-up. The processor codename is "Silverthorne" and the chipset is named "Paulsbo"; together they comprise the new "Menlow" platform. Menlow will adopt the Intel 45nm Hi-k low power micro-architecture, and will will consume one quarter of the power of existing UMPC devices -- many of which use an ultra-low voltage Celeron chip.

Upcoming Mobile Intel Processor and Chipset Technologies

For those interested in sub-notebooks, the most important part of the announcements made today was of the Montevina platform.

Debuting in the second half of 2008, these processors will incorporate the technologies used in Intel laptop processors to be released early next year, but be 40% smaller.

It will include integrated hardware for decoding high-definition video. Wi-Fi and WiMAX will also be integrated into the Montevina platform.