Intel signs deals with China Mobile, Netcom

BEIJING: Intel said in a statement, it would work with the carriers to develop and market the service, which would allow users to surf the Internet in wired places such as hotels, bars and restaurants.

China Mobile and China Netcom would build the wireless local area networks (WLAN) in public sites, while Intel produced wireless packages for laptops consisting of a microprocessor, chip sets and software.

Intel said it would unveil the hardware and software package, called Centrino, on Wednesday.

The firm said that it would announce funding for four new companies to provide wireless and software services ahead of the launch. It pledged last October to invest $150 million in companies developing wireless networking technology.

With about 59 million Internet users, China overtook Japan in 2002 as the world's second largest Web population after the United States.

(C)Reuters Ltd.