Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home IT Management
    • IT Management
    • Mobile
    • Networking
    • PC Hardware

    AMD Choosing Tablets Over Smartphones: Reports

    By
    Jeff Burt
    -
    August 9, 2011
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Advanced Micro Devices has no plans to follow Intel’s lead and compete against ARM Holdings in the booming smartphone market.

      AMD, instead, will take what executives see as the strengths of its x86-based chip portfolio-high performance, strong graphics and energy efficiency-in other directions, including tablets, according to reports.

      Rick Bergman, senior vice president and general manager of AMD’s Product Group, said during an Aug. 8 talk at the Pacific Crest Securities Technology Leadership Forum in Vail, Colo., that tablets-with their focus on video capabilities and long battery life-are a better fit for his company than smartphones, which have limitations in such areas as battery and screen space.

      “We haven’t announced any plans to go in that handheld space,” Bergman said at the event, according to a report in PC World. “We’ve got plenty of opportunities … in server, notebook and, now, tablets. That’s our immediate focus. But if the right circumstances come up and we can see a way to impact the [smartphone] market, we’ll obviously continue to look.”

      AMD strategy in the mobile space has been an issue for a while, and came to a head in January when Dirk Meyer resigned as CEO in a disagreement with members of the board of directors over the company’s direction. The disagreement appeared to center on what board members perceived as AMD’s slow response to the booming smartphone and tablet markets.

      That’s changed in recent months, at least, concerning tablets. In June, AMD unveiled its Z-Series Fusion “Desna” chips, designed specifically for tablets. The low-power Z-Series APUs (accelerated processing units) were designed with such features as low power consumption for the consumer market, as well as with high productivity and security capabilities for business users. AMD is focusing on the Windows 7 market.

      AMD’s Fusion APUs offer high-level graphics and the CPU integrated on the same chip. The Fusion strategy has helped AMD take back some market share from larger rival Intel. In July, market research firm IHS iSuppli said that in the second quarter, AMD saw its share of the worldwide chip market grow 19.4 percent, up from 17.8 percent in same period last year. Intel’s market share dropped from 81.3 percent in the second quarter of 2010 to 79.9 percent this year, the analysts said.

      The tablet space is getting a lot of attention from OEMs and chip makers alike, thanks to the expected growth in the market. Research firm Gartner has projected that tablet sales will grow from about 70 million units this year to 294 million in 2015.

      Currently, the tablet and smartphone spaces are dominated by chips designed by ARM and made by the likes of Samsung Electronics, Qualcomm, Nvidia and Texas Instruments. However, AMD and, to a greater extent, Intel are looking to muscle their way in. Intel already has rolled out its Atom Z670 “Oak Trail” processor designed for tablets, and has said there will be three dozen designs based on the platform.

      At the same time, the company is pushing ahead with its upcoming “Ivy Bridge” Core chips, which will feature Intel’s new Tri-Gate transistor architecture as well as greater performance and lower power consumption than current processors. Ivy Bridge chips should start showing up in products early next year.

      Intel officials also say they expect Intel-based smartphones to begin hitting the shelves in 2012.

      Jeff Burt
      Jeffrey Burt has been with eWEEK since 2000, covering an array of areas that includes servers, networking, PCs, processors, converged infrastructure, unified communications and the Internet of things.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×