Intel's Otellini Outlines End-User Benefits of Convergence and New Technologies
Intel Corporation President and COO Paul Otellini today demonstrated that through Intel’s and the industry’s efforts,
the convergence of computing and communications is being rapidly embraced by individuals and has become a mainstream
trend. He also described new technologies Intel will bring to computing and communications devices that will add
exciting features to Intel products in addition to providing more processing speed.
“Just two years after disclosing details on what was then codenamed Banias, the convergence of computing and
communications has gone mainstream,” said Otellini. “As one example, the addition of more than 76,000 wireless
networking cards a day to the world's computing infrastructure makes it clear that convergence is here to stay. And this
isn't just happening in the PC area -- we're estimating by 2010 there will be more than 2.5 billion wireless handheld
devices capable of providing communications functions combined with the processing power of today's advanced PCs.”
Otellini's comments were made during the opening address of the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) Fall 2003. In addition to
reviewing the company's focus on convergence, Otellini also described new technologies - the “Ts” - Intel plans to bring
to market to provide end-user benefits that go beyond processor frequency.
“It was two years ago at IDF that we committed to deliver fundamental technologies to enable greater productivity and
better experiences for computer users,” said Otellini. “We said we would continue to lead in microprocessor performance
and we’ve done that. We also said we needed to create technologies specifically targeted to match the ways individuals
use computing and communications devices. Hyper-Threading technology, with its innovative approach to enhancing the
computing experience, and Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology, which delivers breakthroughs in mobile computing, are the
first outcomes of this effort.”
The company will continue to deliver on its promise to provide greater user benefits by supplying technologies to
improve security, reliability and media processing, among others. In the security area, the company's LaGrande
technology is designed to be a future enhancement to Intel processors, chipsets and platforms, that when combined with
optimised software would protect against software-based attacks on computer systems. The technology should be available
in the next two-to-three years.
“At a time when the ‘virus of the week’ seems to plague us all, making our computing devices more secure through the
addition of hardware-based security must become a top priority for the industry in order to ensure future growth,” said
Otellini. “However, it’s important to do this in a way that also respects the privacy rights of individuals. Intel is
committed to achieving both goals.”
Another technology Intel plans to incorporate into future products is designed to enable multiple, independent software
environments in a single PC - similar to the way mainframe class systems operate. Code-named “Vanderpool,” it is aimed
at improving the end-user experience by increasing system reliability, flexibility and responsiveness, as well as
speeding the ability to recover from computer crashes.
The company is also developing similar enhancements to improve the processing of digital media - boosting the
performance and lowering the cost of experiencing advanced digital media capabilities. This feature is expected to
become increasingly important in the home environment.
Intel’s leadership in silicon technology is the foundation for providing benefits beyond processor speed. Advanced
silicon technology will allow Intel to meet customer requirements by packing even more new features and functions onto
smaller and smaller devices. For example, by 2011 the company plans to be building semiconductors with circuitry 22-nm
wide, with transistors smaller than a single DNA molecule. As an example of Intel’s investment in technology leadership,
Otellini made the first public presentation of an Intel silicon wafer built on the next generation 65-nm manufacturing
process.
“Intel is committed to bringing technologies to market that end-users want and can use today,” said Otellini. “We will
offer technologies such as Hyper-Threading for performance, enhanced wireless to enable true mobile computing, LaGrande
for security, Vanderpool to improve reliability, flexibility and the overall computing experience, along with our core
silicon expertise, which underpins our ability to enable these and other key capabilities.”
Intel is also focusing its technologies and products on three areas that will provide significant opportunities for the
IT and consumer electronics industries in the coming years: in enterprise computing, mobile Internet clients and the
digital home.
In the enterprise, convergence will create new opportunities as wireless users tap into database and other applications
on the Internet. Product highlights from Intel in the enterprise computing area include plans to introduce a dual core
Intel® Xeon™ processor MP (code-named Tulsa) and a multi-core Intel® Itanium™ processor (code-named Tanglewood), among
other technologies. In the mobile area, Intel is focused on common software that can run across multiple platforms to
enable a seamless computing-communications experience.
In the digital home, the development of industry specifications will be essential to sharing content across multiple
devices. Intel’s involvement with organisations such as the Digital Home Working Group that bring together content
providers and the consumer electronics industry, will help shape technology specifications that benefit consumers. In a
different example of industry cooperation, the development of Digital Transmission Content Protection, over Internet
Protocol (DTCP/IP) technology by Intel and other companies will enable home users to wirelessly share protected
entertainment content among a variety of devices in the home. Through collaboration with content providers such as
Warner Brothers and others, this technology is likely to be a cornerstone to expanding digital home entertainment.
About IDF
The Intel Developer Forum is the technology industry’s premier event for hardware and software developers. Held
worldwide throughout the year, IDF brings together key industry players to discuss cutting-edge technology and products
for PCs, servers, communications equipment, and handheld clients. For more information on IDF and Intel technology,
visit http://developer.intel.com.
Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications
products. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.
Intel, Xeon, Centrino and Itanium are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in
the United States and other countries.
* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
** Hyper-Threading Technology requires a computer system with an Intel® Pentium® 4 processor supporting HT Technology
and a Hyper-Threading Technology enabled chipset, BIOS and operating system. Performance will vary depending on the
specific hardware and software you use. Visit http://www.intel.com/technology/hyperthread/index.htm?iid=sr+hyper& for more information including details on which processors support HT Technology.