Intel focuses on low power

Intel’s CEO, Paul Otellini, kicked-off the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco with predictions of a low power future for the company.

Otellini promoted Intel’s low-power chips for MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices), which will reduce the power consumption of its handheld computer chips by a factor of 10 compared with the Silverthorne processor, which is scheduled for distribution in 2008.

MIDs are a new sort of handheld notebook PC, which Intel hopes will compete with smartphones. The company is developing an x86 processor called Moorestown for low-power devices like MIDs.

Although there is no demand for MIDs at present, Intel believes that reducing the power consumption of its chips will be the catalyst to produce improved designs and software for MIDs.

MIDs will need to connect to the Internet in order to compete with smartphones. According to Otellini, the network of choice will be WiMax.

Intel is working with Sprint and Clearwire to establish a WiMax service in the US and revealed plans for a joint venture with Japanese telco KDDI, to build a WiMax network in Japan.