Chipmaker Intel is set to officially announce the convergence of wireless communication (provided by devices like mobile handsets) with wireless computing (provided by devices like mobile handsets) on March 12, when it launches Centrino Mobile globally, including India.
Based on the Wi-Fi technology -- which allows roaming Internet connectivity on laptop computers and personal digital assistants (PDA) -- Centrino Mobile comes to India at a time when only 2 per cent of all computers in India are laptops.
In developed countries, almost a third of all computers are laptops. G B Kumar, general manager (internet solutions group), Intel Asia Electronics, is hoping that with Intel's new value proposition of combining mobility with Internet connectivity, the laptop market in India will grow faster this year than the 75 per cent growth last year.
"In future, all communication devices will have the features of computing devices, and vice versa. Intel wants to basically accelerate that trend," said Kumar.
How it works is like this: An individual with a laptop/PDA can access the internet from places like hotels, airports, restaurant & coffee shop chains by accessing his service provider, just like in the case of desktop internet connectivity.
Wireless data transfer takes place through a box-like electronic device, or "access point" installed at that place. Each access point offers connectivity over the radius of a few metres.
Connectivity is subject to the number of access points present, and location of the device owner is present or is travelling.
Intel, at a cost of around $300 million, has putx in place validation centres at major centres across the world, with around 2,500 employees manning them.
One such centre will be present in Bangalore, India. These centres will look after issues like seamless connectivity across the various access points, billing issues among the service providers, and the all-important feature of network security.
The company is planning a major branding campaign, to publicise places having the access points. Kumar says many hotels and other public places in India already have these access points, but not many people know about them.
