Boom times ahead for mobile web

[SteveW]

Boom times ahead for mobile web

By Maggie Shiels
Technology reporter, BBC News, Silicon Valley
Page last updated at 10:10 GMT, Friday, 25 July 2008 11:10 UK

The world of mobile internet devices is set to explode in the next four years says chip maker Intel. Research carried out for the company suggests portable net-enabled devices will grow to 1.2 billion by 2012 as the need to be connected increases. Intel's predictions were unveiled as it launched a series of chips designed for portable web-browsing gadgets. "The demand is there and the need is there and our technology can meet those needs," said Intel's Gadi Singer.

Big future

Alongside an explosion in mobile web-using devices, Intel estimated that 100 million households will also be watching IPTV by 2011.

"The fact that people want to be on the internet all the time means they will be looking for the ability they have today say at their desk and to have that anytime and anywhere," said Mr Singer, head of Intel's mobility group. "That creates the demand for new devices and more sophisticated devices with the computing power and connectivity presenting a major opportunity."

The figures came as Intel revealed eight "system on a chip" designs aimed at the portable web-browsing market. Cramming four separate chips into package cuts the size of the processing and wireless units by 45% and power demands by 34%, said Mr Singer. Mr Singer said he expected to see its new chips in car entertainments systems, smart phones, notebooks and industrial robots.

Cash cow

Analysts are watching how Intel competes in the mobile sector where it lags far behind firms such as Arm which dominates the market for chips in handsets.

"Intel is essentially starting out from scratch," Gartner analyst Tole Hart. "The mobile market is the next cash cow and the demand is high for mobile devices with higher speed chips and higher processing chips," he said. "We will have to see how Intel's product performs with say Qualcomm and Texas Instruments."

Dr Gerry Purdy, vice president and chief analyst with Frost & Sullivan, said "Internet access is going to be accomplished by a number of different product classes with the largest being cell phones." He added: "Intel has a big market opportunity here and they should play well in this space with their new Atom processor which will work well in smaller, lighter weight devices."

Original article


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[SteveW]

[I wanted to find out more about Intel's "system on a chip" designs referred to in the BBC article. Via Google and Digg I came up with the following, complete with the original Intel slides. Enjoy.]

Intel Unveils New System On A Chip Designs
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - by Marco Chiappetta
HotHardware.com

Gadi Singer, Vice President of Intel’s Mobility Group, and Doug Davis, Vice President of Intel’s Digital Enterprise Group, held a conference call today to discuss a brand new product line from Intel targeted at security, storage, communications, and industrial applications, the Intel EP80579 Integrated Processor family.

Although the Intel EP80579 branding will be new to most of you, the underlying technology is comprised of products that have a well established history at Intel. In fact, this line of products is based on the Pentium M processor core, as it has been in development for quite some time now. The Intel EP80579 Integrated Processor family, however, is more than just a new processor. The products actually consist of new System on a Chip designs that integrate a Pentium M core, with a Memory Controller Hub (MCH), I/O hub (ICH), and in some cases specialized security, TDM (Time Division Multiplexing for voice-over-IP apps), and data path acceleration engines, which have been dubbed Intel QuickAssist Technology.

Development was started on the Intel EP80579 Integrated Processor family to prepare the company for the impending onslaught of smart, Internet-connected devices and appliances predicted to arrive over the next few years. The Intel EP80579 product line puts Intel in a position to target several growth areas across Consumer Electronics (CE), Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) and other embedded markets. "We’re now able to deliver more highly integrated products ranging from industrial robotics and in-car infotainment systems to set-top boxes, MIDs and other devices. By designing more complex systems onto smaller chips, Intel will scale the performance, functionality and software compatibility of IA while controlling the overall power, cost and size requirements to better meet respective market needs,” said Gadi Singer.

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