BANGALORE: After the successful `Build your own PC’ program, Intel Corporation is all set to launch `Build your Laptop’ program in India. This program is expected to be flagged off before this year-end.

"We saw the PC market boom with the help of `Build your own PC’ program. In a similar fashion we intend to emulate in the `Build your own Laptop’ program," commented Intel Corp SA Asia Internet Solutions Group, General Manager, GB Kumar. He was speaking on the outline of press conference showcasing a hotspot at Café Coffee Day in Bangalore.

According to him, the proposed program would help fatten the lean Laptop market in the country, estimated to be a mere 60,000 units per year and about two percent of the global market. This program is expected to trigger a number of garage Laptop developers. This in turn would help the penetration of the Laptops in the country. The emergence of wireless fidelity (WiFi) computing is also expected to boost the sales of Laptops in India.

Kumar denied that the Laptop assemblers would affect the OEMs. "Countries like China and India can afford to have assemblers to expand the industry. These players give the benefit of price to the consumers and that helps the market," added Kumar.

`Build your own Laptop’ program would witness Intel lending its brand to the assemblers in a similar fashion to the `Intel Inside’ GID program. The company has earmarked a global spend of about $200 million to the Centrino technology in the WiFi arena.

`Build your own PC’ program witnessed the price drop in a PC by over 40 percent. Hope to expect the same in the Laptop market. Awaiting a Centrino powered Laptop for Rs 25,000.