Intel today confirmed that it has started up a dedicated network and tablet group in a likely attempt to counter the iPad and other products based on ARM chips. The group will be led by the leader of the company’s embedded chip and communications team, Doug Davis. It should help “sharpen our focus [at Intel]” on the newer categories, company spokesman Bill Kircos told the New York Times.
He explained that the total shipments of netbooks since their 2007 inception was about to top 100 million and it was about time to gauge the demand for Intel-based tablets and hybrids like Dell’s Inspiron Duo.
Intel has already swung its attention to tablets with the upcoming launch of the Oak Trail platform for Atoms, but until now it had been grouped under regular mobile processor efforts. It was designed to use a smaller footprint and consume less power than existing Atom chips, especially when idle.
MeeGo, a tablet-friendly OS developed with Nokia’s help, won’t be ready in earnest until later on in 2011. So Intel will need to focus on Windows power management issues to battle ARM and ship tablets at this time.
