Intel Denies Postponements of Sonoma: New Centrino is Still on Track
 

An Intel Corp. representative denied any problems with the development next-generation iteration of Centrino platform and possible delay of the technology’s introduction. The reports about possible setback for the platform code-named Sonoma and chipset code-named Alviso hit the web on Wednesday.

Sonoma – on Track

“It is our policy that we do not comment on speculations and rumors. But I can reiterate that Sonoma is still on track for delivery in the second half of this year,” said Barbara Grimes, a spokeswoman for Intel Corporation.

An article published by a Taiwanese web-site on Wednesday claimed that the release date of the Sonoma and Alviso products might be pushed forward to the first quarter of 2005 from the fourth quarter of 2004. In case the information appeared to be correct, that would continue the delay chain of Intel’s mobile products.

Sonoma – Consumer-Oriented Mobile Platform

Intel’s code-named Alviso core-logic is expected to support dual-channel DDR2 SDRAM memory to improve performance tangibly compared to current mobile platforms. Additionally, certain incarnations of the Alviso are likely to feature 533MHz processor system bus to partner with the upcoming Intel Pentium M “Dothan” processors that will get PSB boost late this year.

Intel said that the Sonoma platform primarily targets the consumers, while the initial Centrino incarnation addressed the needs of business and enterprise users, who are not much interested in loads of multimedia capabilities, but are more concentrated on battery life and wireless LAN capability.

In order to offer more advantages to consumers, Intel said its next-generation mobile core-logic – Alviso – will enable PCI Express interconnections in notebooks, allowing installation of powerful mobile graphics add-in cards, such as ATI AXIOM and NVIDIA MXM, designed specifically for this bus.

In order to complete the transition of the mobile technologies to the most-advanced level, Intel is also projected to add support for Serial ATA-150 to the upcoming ICH6-M and bring advanced Azalia audio to its “Sonoma” Mobile Internet PC 2004 Platform enabling Dolby-Digital 7.1 and high-quality audio on such kind of PCs. Additionally, expect the new platform to support NEWCARD, as well as new and even more effective power-saving (EBL’04) and security features, such as biometrics.

As a part of its “Sonoma” Mobile Internet PC 2004 Platform (Centrino 2004), Intel also plans to launch an 802.11g/Bluetooth solution with improved Bluetooth audio quality while using WLAN. The company’s longer-term plans are to enable 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth and GSM-GPRS co-existence on the same mobile platform


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