MWC 2015 – Intel’s Powerful New Chips Are Aimed At Budget Smartphones

Intel has announced a series of new mobile chips which will feature in 2015’s budget smartphones from manufacturers such as ASUS, Jolla and Lenovo.

The chip firm, announcing the products at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, also unveiled a global LTE solution.

Intel said that with a breadth of technologies that span silicon, software and security, it was “one of the few companies able to deliver solutions end-to-end, for devices, the network and the cloud”.

Intel Atom x3

The announcements include the Intel Atom x3 processor series, Intel’s first integrated communications system-on-chip (SoC) solution for the ‘entry device’ market.

Intel unwrapped the Atom x3 processor series (formerly code-named “SoFIA”), the firm’s first integrated communications platform for entry and value tablets, phablets and smartphones. Combining 64-bit multi-core Atom processors together with 3G or 4G LTE connectivity, the integrated communications SoC combines the applications processor, image sensor processor, graphics, audio, connectivity and power management components in a single system chipset. This integration allows device manufacturers to deliver full-featured tablets, phablets and smartphones at affordable price points for the rapidly growing entry and value market segments.

Intel said twenty companies, including ASUS and Jolla have committed to delivering Intel Atom x3 designs.

Intel also introduced its first 14nm Intel Atom chip, the Intel Atom x5 and x7 processor series (formally code-named “Cherry Trail”) for next-generation tablets and small-screen 2 in 1s.

64-bit support for Windows

The chips offer 64-bit support for Windows and Android, Intel Gen 8 graphics, and an option to pair with next-generation LTE Advanced connectivity, the Intel Atom x5 and x7 processor series will power a range of mainstream to premium devices.

In addition, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich highlighted joint efforts with Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson and Huawei to address the demand for new telecommunications, cloud and data centre services, improve network efficiencies, and accelerate the industry’s move toward a software-defined infrastructure.

Krzanich also reiterated that Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge users will have the latest anti-malware solution from McAfee VirusScan Mobile technology built into and activated on theirdevices.

“The evolution of the mobile landscape and growth of smart, connected devices has led to increased demand for more connectivity and real-time, protected data on those devices,” said Krzanich. “All of these factors are driving a transformation of the network to accelerate the delivery of new personal computing experiences, services and capabilities in a safe and secure manner. Intel is one of the only companies in the world that can provide solutions end-to-end for the full spectrum of mobility.”

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