Filed under: Products and services, Launches, Industry, Intel (INTC), Research in Motion (RIMM)
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is introducing a new set of ultra-small chips [subscription required], some of them to power mini-computers that are unusually portable for consumers. According to The Wall Street Journal, “One chip, previously known by the code name Silverthorne, is designed to be the calculating engine for pocket-sized gadgets that Intel calls MIDs, for mobile World wide web devices.”
Contrary to Intel’s hopes, the market may be a little opportunity. Smartphones are already taking on most of the functions that could be found on a mini-computer. They’ve e-mail, navigation, web access and texting capacity. Some allow for the download of documents and other data. For most effects, Research-In-Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM)’s Blackberry and high-end smartphones coming to market from a number of handset companies already serve the massive majority of the needs of people who want a portable computing device.
Intel may be entering a market that’s already very crowded and has tiny interest in adopting its technology.
Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.
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