Intel releases Sonoma mobile platform

Coinciding with the 10th anniversary of its worldwide reseller channel organization, Intel is reorganizing its product and channel groups as well as gearing up for the release of a new mobile platform code named Sonoma.

Sonoma, which will be released as Intel’s next generation Centrino mobile

platform for notebooks, will include CPU, chipset, wireless hardware and network connection software.

The new Centrino platform will enable system builders to produce notebooks not only for business applications but also for wireless communications, gaming, home theatre applications and MP3 playback.

The tri-mode radio, 802.11a/g wireless LAN support, the new 915 Express chip set will make corporate notebooks workhorses, said Doug Cooper, general manager of Intel Canada Ltd.

Cooper also said wireless software supports the latest Cisco-compatible extensions, which improves security.

There are already more than 150 unique product SKUs for the new Centrino platform, Cooper said, a large number of which will be white books.

According to Evans Research, Centrino accounts for more than 40 per cent of the mobile chipset market in Canada. Evans predicted that Centrino penetration will continue to grow.

IDC Canada says Centrino technology has led to consumer adoption of notebooks at a rapid rate. The Toronto-based research firm added that notebook shipments as a percentage of total PC clients has risen to 27 per cent last year and are expected to reach 30 per cent in 2005.

Intel also realigned itself by bringing all of its major product groups in line with the company’s strategy to drive development of complete technology platforms based on Intel ingredients.

The new business units will be made up of a mobility group, a digital enterprise group, a digital home group, a digital health group and a channel products group.

Cooper said these changes will have some implications for Canada.

“”We needed to take a holistic view and focus the company around five platform areas and align all resources to give (the customer) the best experience,”” Cooper said.

He added the moves will improve training and collateral material for the channel on all the platforms.

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Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

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