Intel unveils Sonoma chip

BANGALORE: Intel Corporation has launched the new generation Centrino mobile chip code named "Sonoma". According to the company, the new chip leads the way towards "platformization" with the technology and business units getting aligned with this strategy. Elaborating on this, Intel Corporation South Asia sales and marketing group director, Amar Babu said, "We want to move from MHz to focus more on enhancing customer experience, both for home and enterprise segments."






Besides wireless communications, the new mobile platform features entertainment and business specs like integrated video graphics access, hi-definition media playback, multiple displays and audio channels and can also double up as a home theatre system. Babu informed that the company expects better penetration into the consumer segment with this platform. "With the audio and video features that are available on the chip, we hope to boost adoption of laptops at home in the digital entertainment space," he added. Consumers can experience entertainment features like hi-definition audio with Dolby Digital and 7.1 surround sound and personal video recording.





The latest Centrino mobile technology platform includes Intel Pentium M processors, the Mobile Intel 915 Express chipset family(formerly codenamed Alviso) and Intel PRO/Wireless 2915 ABG or 2200 BG wireless LAN components. Around 80 notebook designs from laptop vendors like Acer, Lenovo, Dell, Wipro, Fujitsu, Samsung and eSys incorporated with the latest chip, are available, in the market. This would increase to 150 by mid-05.





On the issue of laptop penetration, Babu said that mobility adoption in the country is at an inflection point with the segment growing by 140 percent in 2004 as compared to the previous year. He stressed that the volume increase could be attributed to Intel Centrino mobile technology. "Around 60 percent of all notebooks shipped in the APAC region in Q3 2004 are Wi-Fi enabled," Babu informed.