Intel launches plan to boost car-based devices

SAN FRANCISCO: Intel Corp., the world's largest chipmaker, on Thursday

announced a plan to speed up the adoption of Internet-based navigation,

multimedia, phones and other products in cars. The new Intel Telematics Design

Center will provide free Web-based development and technical support for

designing handheld and wireless devices in cars using the company's technology.

Intel said it wants to speed up the development of products and services that

are already based on Intel's microprocessor and memory technologies, such as its

Strong-ARM chip and forthcoming XScale processor. Intel's Strong-ARM chips are

made for car-based devices and other handheld computing devices, and are used in

Compaq Computer Corp.'s iPaq handheld device. The XScale chip, in addition to

handhelds, will also be used in smart phones.

The telematics market, for car-based devices, has been slow to take off, but

automakers and technology companies are still betting that it will ultimately be

a profitable one. DaimlerChrysler AG chose AT&T Wireless Services Inc. in

August to provide data and voice services for devices installed in Chrysler cars

in the United States.

Santa Clara, California-based Intel said the center is part of its Intel

personal Internet client architecture developer network announced in August.

Intel said its personal client architecture accommodates other hardware and

software systems, making it easy to develop wireless Internet devices and

applications. This would lead to higher sales of new types of Intel chips, it

said.

(C) Reuters Limited 2001.