Intels Grip Shifts Back to Its Chips

For the past couple of years, Intel Corp. has pushed to diversify its offerings and reduce its revenue reliance on what it is best known for: the microprocessor.

Thats been reflected in the products rolled out at the companys previous Developers Forums, where everything from consumer gadgets to peer-to-peer technologies were put on display with an unbridled optimism for all things Internet-related.

But at its semiannual Developers Forum here last week, the chip maker put the spotlight back onto its core competency: manufacturing silicon solutions. In the spotlights glare were products such as the long-awaited 64-bit Itanium and McKinley processors and the mobile Pentium III chip.

Intel executives demonstrated their 64-bit Itanium processor, designed for high-end workstations and servers. The product, haunted by delays since last year, is now set for release next quarter.

The Santa Clara, Calif., company also demonstrated its second-generation 64-bit product, code-named McKinley. The chip, widely seen as Intels first truly competitive 64-bit product, is set to be released in pilot systems late this year and be officially launched early next year.

Also introduced at the Developers Forum was a new low-power 700MHz mobile Pentium III. The chip consumes less than 1 watt of power on average when running at 500MHz in SpeedStep mode.

Intel officials also said the company is creating a high-density server similar to one proposed a few weeks ago by startup RLX Technologies Inc. The “blade” model server will be offered to OEMs in two months.