IBM’s new microchip for portables to consume less power

NEW YORK: International Business Machines Corp. on Friday plans to unveil a

new microchip called the PowerPC 405LP that it says can consume 10 times less

power than competing chips and extend the battery life in portable electronic

products.

This is the first chip in what Armonk, NY-based IBM says will be a family of

ultra-low power semiconductors that are aimed at mobile devices like personal

digital assistants, cell phones and other Internet appliances.

The chip uses less power through circuitry that shuts off portions not in

use, IBM said.

Semiconductor makers began selling chips this year that consume less power

and produce less heat to meet consumer demand for lighter, more portable

electronics. For instance, semiconductor giant Intel Corp. and start-up

Transmeta Corp. make low-power chips for notebook computers.

IBM said that the PowerPC 405LP has processing features that make voice

recognition and data encryption software more efficient. The company said it was

working with five or six customers on applications for the chip and will begin

shipping in 2002.

Last week, IBM introduced a new Power4 microprocessor for use in server

computers that it says uses some of the same technology as the new 405LP.

(C) Reuters Limited 2001.