Intel Seeks Mobile Computing Leadership, Reaffirms WiMAX Commitment

Introduction

For those interested in mobile computing and mobile WiMAX, there were several
important take-aways from last week’s Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in San
Francisco, CA.  Most importantly, Intel made it clear that they intend to
dominate the mobile computing silicon and software space.  They will face
stiff competition from Qualcomm, which is already moving their technology into
smart phones, eBook readers, Mobile Internet Devices, and other hand held
devices. 

In this article we detail Intel’s newly announced mobile computing plans and its
reaffirmation of its commitment to mobile WiMAX.  We will examine the
following:

- Roadmap for Intel’s Atom processor, which is targeted at netbooks, MIDs, and
other hand held mobile computing devices.

- Establishment of the "Intel Atom Developer Program."

- A new version of Moblin – Intel’s Linux-based operating system intended for
netbooks and MIDs. 

- Reaffirmation of Intel’s WiMax commitment via a short progress report and
Clearwire demonstration.

More information on this year’s Intel Developer Forum
can be found here.

IDF Highlights:

1.  Intel’s Atom processor (now using the Menlow platform) is
currently sold into netbooks, but not hand held devices where power consumption
is a huge issue.  Intel plans to integrate more functionality into Atom,
reduce power consumption, and shrink the die sizes by half. 

Editors Note:  Atom and other "System- on a -Chip (SoC)" platforms
have their own road map schedule that is different from Intel’s PC client and
server products, which operate on Intel’s famous "tick-tock " road map schema. 
In particular, the Atom/SoC line will trail the leading PC and server products
by about one semiconductor process generation, or "tick." Major architecture
upgrades — or "tocks" — also will be different from the PC client and server
road map.

The new Moorestown platform -to be available in mid 2010- shrinks and integrates
more functions into fewer chips so that it can be embedded into mobile Internet
devices (MIDs) and larger smart phones.  It also adds hyper-threading to
Atom, boosting performance in threaded apps.  Built on a 45nm process,
Moorestown will greatly reduce power consumption (especially idle power)
compared to Menlow.  Citing a combination of architectural, design and
process enhancements, Intel VP David Perlmutter discussed some of the innovative
techniques that Intel is implementing in Moorestown.  These include
"Distributed Power Gating," for improved performance and major reductions in
power and thermal envelope.

Mr.  Perlmutter also highlighted Intel’s next generation of mobile
processors, codenamed "Arrandale," which brings the Nehalem micro-architecture
to mainstream laptops.  These chips will integrate the dual-core CPU and
graphics in the package and incorporate the 32nm manufacturing process and
second-generation high-k metal gate transistors for increased performance and
power efficiency for mainstream mobile PCs.  This integration of platform
components will continue into the future with a fully monolithic processor on
32nm, codenamed "Sandy Bridge."

These technologies help to achieve up to a 50x improvement in platform idle
power reduction compared to Intel’s first generation "Menlow" platform. 
The reductions are enabling Intel to establish new thresholds in ultra low power
while making it possible to run the full Internet and media-rich applications in
handheld devices, according to Perlmutter.

In his opening day keynote speech, CEO Paul Otellini explained, "At Intel,
Moore’s Law is alive and thriving.  We’ve begun production of the world’s
first 32nm microprocessor, which is also the first high-performance processor to
integrate graphics with the CPU.  At the same time, we’re already moving
ahead with development of our 22nm manufacturing technology and have built
working chips that will pave the way for production of still more powerful and
more capable processors."

Editors Note:  It wasn’t too long ago that 90nm processors were the
norm, and 65nm processors were cutting edge. 

For sure, Intel is serious about pushing its Atom-based SoC platforms into an
increasing number of product categories.  CEO Otellini even predicted "a
future where Intel ships more SoC cores than standard PC cores."

2.  The Intel Atom Developer Program was unveiled during a keynote
speech by Renee James, corporate vice president and general manager of Intel’s
Software and Services Group.  This effort encourages independent software
vendors and developers to create mobile applications.  Intel is partnering
with notebook and netbook manufacturers, including Acer and ASUS, to create
multiple application stores where applications and application building blocks
for Intel-based netbooks and handhelds will be sold. 

"The Intel Atom Developer Program will drive new innovative applications for
consumers and new revenue streams for software developers," said James.  "The new program facilitates the creation of applications that
consumers can use with confidence knowing they were optimized and validated for
Intel Atom processor-based devices.  We want to fuel the growth of Intel
Atom-based products designed for the mobile lifestyle," Continuing, he stated,
"The netbook has become one of the most popular consumer devices in the market
today, but its true potential has been limited by applications that are not
optimized for its mobility and smaller screen size.  The Intel Atom
Developer Program provides a great opportunity for developers to create useful
and inventive applications that will unlock a netbook’s potential while opening
a new sales and distribution channel."

To provide the broadest choice of applications across platforms, the Intel Atom
Developer Program will support multiple operating systems and run-time
environments.  Run-times enable developers to use a single code base to
support multiple device platforms and avoid extensive reprogramming, thereby
reducing development costs and time-to-market.  Run-times such as Microsoft
Silverlight allow developers to access multiple classes of customers and deliver
rich applications for Windows and Moblin-based environments using a single
toolset, Visual Studio and the .NET Framework.  For more information,

please visit here.

Intel no doubt wishes to replicate the success of the iPhone App Store by having
its OEM vendors create App stores for their Atom-powered devices.  Taking
it one step further, Intel introduced its own "App Store" for its Linux-based
Moblin operating system (see discussion in 3.  below).  Interested
developers can join the program now at
this new site.

Intel states, "You create innovative network applications – we take care of the
rest." Let’s see if this works out well for all concerned.

3.  Intel introduced a new version of Moblin – its Linux-based
operating system for netbooks, MIDs and other hand held devices.  Among
several new features, Moblin 2.1 supports a new interface appropriate for the
screens you see on MIDs and smart phones.  Additionally, Moblin 2.1 builds
in capabilities like native touch screen input and gesture support, new user
interface features, and support for more hardware drivers.  It also
includes incremental upgrades that expand the usability of the OS.

Moblin was originally developed and promoted by Intel as an OS for netbooks. 
At IDF, an Intel representative said that with Moblin 2.1, the OS will now come
in three versions: for handhelds, netbooks and nettops.  (A nettop is an
inexpensive desktop about the size of a hardcover book to which key boards, mice
and monitors can be connected.) For more information,
please visit here.

4.  Intel is still very committed to mobile WiMax - even as global
mobile carriers rush to implement various versions of 3G and look towards LTE in
the future.  During his keynote speech, David Perlmutter, executive vice
president of Intel’s mobility group, stated:

"Another cool factor is connectivity.  This is the era of getting
connected.  Intel is delivering the total mobile experience on each device,
offering different levels of performance and power in sleek form factors coupled
with compatibility, a superior mobile Internet experience and embedded WiMAX
wireless broadband.  We’re truly taking mobility to the next level of
cool."

Perlmutter continued, "A laptop generates more than 15 times the data of a smart
phone.  This is generating stress on 3G networks.  Last year we
introduced the first embedded WiMax that goes into notebooks.  But having
products with WiMax doesn’t matter.  It’s all about having networks,
because if you cannot connect, then it doesn’t matter.  And we have
networks being built in North America, in Russia, in Japan, and we have networks
already there.  We are building with our partners networks in other places
like India, Malaysia, Taiwan.  And many, many other places have all sorts
of mobile and fixed WiMax all over the globe."

In closing this discussion topic, Perlmutter said, "But I will better have
someone that build networks talk about it." Peter Cannistra ¹ , VP of
embedded devices at Clearwire was called to the stage.  Mr.  Cannistra
talked about his company’s "ability to put the mobile Internet in your hand, in
a broadband way." In particular, Clearwire customers are realizing average
downstream speeds of 3 to 6 M b/sec, bursting up to 10M b/sec, according to
Cannistra.  He then demonstrated a videoconference over WiMAX, which showed
superior performance compared to an equivalent 3G videoconference.  The
comparison was a CLEAR win for mobile WiMAX (pun intended).

Perlmutter’s keynote webcast includes this videoconferencing comparison as well
as his comments about the Atom processor road map is

archived here. 

Comment and Analysis:

There is no doubt that Intel is focusing on mobile computing with its next
generation of microprocessors, Atom developer program and new version of Moblin. 
Will they be able to compete with future versions of ARM or Qualcomm’s
Snapdragon with embedded 3G cores?

Up till now, the key issue has been power consumption, with Intel’s Menlow
platform consuming too much power to be used in handheld devices.  Intel’s
only hand held design win that we are aware of is with LG – a 3G MID that will
use the Moorestown platform.  No deliverable products have been announced
for the Intel- Nokia strategic partnership.  We expect Moorestown to be
used with embedded 3G SoC capability with 3G cores from Ericsson, Nokia and
possibly other vendors.

So we think the key test, will be commercial acceptance of Intel’s "Moorestown"
platform, scheduled for 2010, in eBook readers, MIDs and smart phones. 

With Qualcomm now making a big mobile computing push with its Snapdragon (ARM
based) processor and with their Gobi 2000 platform that supports almost all 3G
wireless network interfaces we think they will be a formidable competitor. 
At an open house last week, we learned that Qualcomm is producing a wealth of
software innovations to advance the always-connected mobile world.  The
mobile phone chip powerhouse now has more software engineer’s then hardware
engineers and is moving ahead full steam with mobile computing research
projects.  Qualcomm is mobile OS neutral, but are working with many device
vendors using the Android platform.

And with the potential for Microsoft to port Windows Mobile 7 to ARM-based
platforms in the future, we believe Intel could potentially devote even more
resources to Moblin in order to help deter Microsoft from supporting Windows on
ARM as well as Android on Snapdragon.  The Atom Developers program will
also need to be strengthened in order to offer a variety of applications that
will run on that platform.

_________________

Footnotes:

1 – Cannistra oversees the company’s strategy to embed mobile WiMAX
functionality into notebooks, netbooks and a wide range of consumer electronic
devices.  He is responsible for Clearwire’s strategic relationships with
Intel, PC OEMs and numerous other companies that aim to make wireless broadband
accessible to more people and devices.