Intel plans new Atom processor-based SoC

BANGALORE, INDIA: Chip major Intel said that it was planning new Intel Atom processor-based system-on-chip (SoC).

The SoC, codenamed 'Tunnel Creek' is for IP phones, printers and in-vehicle-infotainment systems for cars, Intel said in a statement.

Tunnel Creek is based on Intel's Moorestown system-on-a-chip Atom design and combines an Atom core, the memory controller, graphics engine, and video engine. The chip is designed to work with a variety of devices that don't necessarily use accompanying Intel silicon, called chipsets.

Speaking at the Intel Developer Forum 2010 Beijing on Wednesday, Intel executives outlined the latest Intel SoC products for embedded applications and described new research to allow homes and small businesses to better use and manage energy.

The new SoC, for the first time, will let other companies create PCI Express-compliant devices that directly connect to the chip, which offers new flexibility for embedded applications, said Intel.

The chip will also enable companies to connect their own custom-built silicon to the Intel chip as long as it is a PCI Express compliant. The flexibility in this highly integrated one-chip solution helps reduce bill of materials and saves on board real estate for embedded applications.

“Intel is committed to focus our technologies on innovative new applications in China,” said Doug Davis, corporate vice president and general manager of Intel's embedded and communications group. “We're cooperating closely with local companies in China to provide smarter and better connected computing solutions for cars, homes, businesses that provide infrastructure to power a more mobile and faster Internet experience.”

Tie up with HawTai and China Mobile

It also said China carmaker HawTai plans to incorporate Intel Atom processor and MeeGo software in future in-vehicle-infotainment platform.

“With an infotainment solution that utilizes the Intel Atom processor, we are leveraging the well-established and latest Internet technologies, and re-using existing software that has been developed on MeeGo based Linux platform," said Wang Dian Ming, vice chairman of HawTai Automotive.

Apart from HawTai, China Mobile, the world's largest wireless telecommunications company, will also adopt Intel chips for targeted platforms powering its wireless networks.

"China Mobile has been researching a new Radio Access Network architecture that is intended to provide our broadband wireless network the benefits of world class energy efficiency, reduced total cost of ownership, and high performance, while having the flexibility to allocate infrastructure resources to varying network load conditions," said Dr. Cui Chunfeng, manager of wireless research labs, department of wireless communications, China Mobile Research Institute.

Meanwhile, Davis also outlined Intel's vision of applying the IT industry's compute and cloud model to the telecom industry by consolidating network workloads on a single architecture. He said worldwide telecom leaders are endorsing Intel architecture for targeted platforms in their next generation infrastructure, including Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Hauwei and ZTE.

Smart tech at home and at work

Speaking at the event Intel chief technology officer and managing director of Intel Labs, Justin Rattner, discussed how smarter technology at home and at work can reduce and better manage energy consumption. Rattner said the company's goal is to apply Intel technology in ways that empower consumers and small businesses to make better energy choices.

"Consumer empowerment is critical," said Rattner. "Individual consumers must have the information, tools and incentives to conserve scarce energy resources, minimize their carbon impact and keep their energy budgets under control. If we can make energy more personalized with real-time information and offer visual tools that engage entire communities, it will lead to valuable changes in behavior and save staggering amounts of energy."

Intel also said its researchers have invented a new wireless device to make the collection of energy data easy and inexpensive for consumers. The experimental, low-cost sensor need only be plugged into the house wiring to instantaneously measure and wirelessly report the power consumption of each electrical load in the home. The technology could be easily deployed by consumers to analyze energy usage of devices and appliances throughout a home.