LAS VEGAS – More than a million personal computers were shipped daily during 2010 and with the launch of its new 2nd Generation Intel Core Processor, chip giant Intel says it expects to generate US$125bn in 2011 for the global PC industry.
Addressing journalists ahead of today’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Otellini anticipates growth opportunities beyond the PC in areas like home energy, vehicles and new computer form factors.
“In terms of future technologies showing up in volume in the marketplace, the numbers are unprecedented. You are going to see Intel start to build ecosystems around new devices, TVs, cars, tablets netbooks, home energy and digital signs.”
The strength of the PC industry can be demonstrated in that Intel recently reported its first US$11bn quarter.
Otellini revealed that some 30m units of netbooks shipped last year. “There are over 100 new Atom-based netbooks and tablets in design right now and these will whip into the marketplace during first half of this year.
“We are working with Google to catalyse the smart TV category, bring out set-top boxes to bring the internet to the big screen in everyone’s living room. We are also working with Google on the Chrome OS, as well as new ecosystems with automotive manufacturers.
“The integration of internet-based connectivity and intelligence will be critical to the cars of the future,” Otellini told the Consumer Electronics Show.
Otellini refrained from talking about smartphones, saying he will provide an update on progress with MeeGo at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in a month’s time.
More from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas:
Consumer electronics market vying for US$1trn mark in 2011
Angry Birds launched for Windows PCs on Intel apps store
‘Sandy Bridge’ – 2nd Generation Intel Core Processor
There have been many questions about the future of the PC industry but as far as Otellini is concerned, it is as strong as it ever was, with more than 1m devices shipping a day.
“To explain how dynamic PCs are becoming, how much more innovative they are and how much more affordable they are, our second-generation Intel core microprocessor, code-named Sandy Bridge, is the biggest launch of the year for us.
“It is not only the best product but also the most exciting product we’ve built. One of the things visible in this new product is we have shipped to processor-based graphics, integrated onto the die graphics and media engines that are so important to computing,” Otellini said.
He said that the chip represents a powerful leap forward for Intel insofar as the second-generation processor is an entire system on a chip that makes the need for discrete graphic cards redundant in future PCs, as the chip can handle this and much more.
New features of the ‘Sandy Bridge’ processor include Intel Insider technology for secure content streaming, Intel Quick Sync Video and a new version of Intel’s Wireless Display (Wi-Di) technology, which enables smooth and swift transfer of content from PC to TV.
Intel also revealed it is working with Cinema Now, Dixons Retail plc, Bollywood giant Hungama, 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros on secure content delivery to PCs.
“This is the world’s most advanced 32nm chip technology,” Otellini explained. “It is the first 32nm graphics and media chip in the industry. It can do the things discrete media can’t do, it can also do fast transcoding. You can simply move video from one format to another in a seamless effortless move.”
The 2nd Generation Intel Core processor, Otellini said, features deep integration with Windows 7 and the future Windows 8 operating system.
Intel, he said, is going from strength to strength with 20 new processors coming out, more than 500 new design wins for laptops and desktops. “To give you a scale, in 2011 alone, Sandy Bridge will represent one-third of Intel’s corporate revenues.
“In the year ahead Intel will generate US$125bn dollars for the PC industry,” Otellini said.
