Intel sees healthy dual-core future

Intel vowed at a financial analyst conference that dual-core processors, the further rise of mobile computers and its platform strategy will keep the company on a path of double-digit revenue growth.

President and future chief executive Paul Otellini revealed the codenames for the second generation of Intel's dual-core chips, but did not provide any specifications.

'Merom' will replace 'Yonah' for laptops, 'Conroe' follows 'Presler', and 'Woodcrest' is set to replace 'Dempsey' for low-end dual-processor servers.

Otellini said that Intel is currently developing 15 dual-core processors across all segments.

Dual-core processors will make up over 90 per cent of the processors shipped by 2007 for desktop and mobile systems, by which time all chips in the server segment will be dual core.

Intel will also keep focusing on platform development rather than increasing processor speeds. In the chipmaker's vision, a platform is a combination of processor, chipset, communications technology and software.

The mobile platform will deliver all-day battery life and bundle Wi-Fi WiMax and Ultra Wideband technologies. Other platforms will target the digital home, enterprise and healthcare, along with vertical markets such as education and internet cafés.

Intel will also look at mobile chips to maintain its current growth rate. Laptop computers accounted for more than 50 per cent of the revenues in the retail channel in the US in last year's fourth quarter.

About 60 per cent of the computers in Japan, and 50 per cent in Europe, are now notebooks, according to Otellini.