NEW DELHI, INDIA: Simmtronics Semiconductors Ltd, a manufacturer of memory modules, motherboards and graphics cards has ventured into the netbook segment with the announcement of the company's first Netbook, based on Intel Atom mobile CPU. It will be available in the Indian market this year.

Initially, the Netbooks will be imported. However, the company plans to start its production at its Roorkee factory as the volume increases. The company will start the indigenous production of Motherboard in January 2009.

Simmtronics’ new compact and lightweight netbook is powered by the incredibly small, amazingly smart Intel Atom processor, which delivers the performance needed to enjoy popular activities like streaming videos or music, emailing, web surfing or instant messaging. Whether you are at home, traveling or hanging out at a café, you can take the internet on the go with you inside a convenient Netbook. Designed specifically for your mobile computing needs, it provides the power of full-sized laptop, with the latest Intel Atom processor in a compact body with a 10.2-inch screen.

It comes with Intel Atom processor N270 at 1.6 GHz core speed with 533 MHz AGTL+ front-side bus (FSB) and 2.5 watts thermal design power2 (TDP).

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep technology reduces average system power consumption. The enhanced low-power sleep states (C1E, C2E, C4E) are optimized for power by forcibly reducing the performance state of the processor when it enters a package low-power state. Designed specifically for mobile devices, it uses a brand new design structure the dynamic L2 cache sizing -that reduces electrical leakage in transistors-to conserve energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet. 

Elaborating on the Netbook plans in India, Vinit Shangle, National Sales Manager, Simmtronics Semiconductors, said: "We have kept our distribution and marketing plans at a low-profile owing to ongoing economic slowdown and increasing numbers of delayed payments and defaulter cases. At present, we do not wish to invest in branding and marketing promotions. Nevertheless, whenever market corrects, we will launch full-fledged range of Netbooks, in partnership with Intel. We expect to sell 400 units of Netbooks by end of December."

Pricing and availability
Presently, Simmtronics Netbook is available in three colors: red, black and white. Priced at Rs. 21,999/- plus the taxes. The Netbook comes with back to bench one-year warranty. It would be made available by Dec 15, 2008 this year. Simmtronics will not be putting any additional distribution layer and continue to sell the product through its 800 peripheral selling, Direct Billing Partners (DBPs).

"The rationale behind our entry in Netbook is to get prepared for growing bandwidth and Wi-Max opportunities in India. Market is flooded with Netbooks and Notebook giants (HP, Dell, HCL and Lenovo); hence, counting on numbers will be difficult. Early positive acceptability, however, will decide the future course of action," added Shangle.