Intel Corporation (INTC) Launches Atom Chips for Mobile Devices

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) developed quite the empire during the PC and laptop era of computing, as its computer chips were in many of the best-selling PCs and laptops in the world in the 1980s and 1990s. As the computer world moved outside of the home and office and started fitting in briefcases, pockets and purses, some rival chipmakers like Qualcomm, Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM) and ARM Holdings plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:ARMH) to gain significant market share when they developed more scalable, flexible chipsets that better met the demands from mobile devices.

Whether it’s too late or not remains the question, but Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) – a favorite of 48 of the hedge funds we track –  is unveiling its new line of mobile chipsets called Atom “Clover Trail+” to be integrated into several smartphones, including those made by Lenovo, ASUS and ZTE. This announcement was made at the annual Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona this week. The company announced that because it was late to the mobiel device party in recent years, it stepped up its research and development spending in 2012 to more than $18 billion, an increase of 14 percent over the previous year.

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)“We will build on this foundation,” said Hermann Eul, Intel vice president. “In less than a year’s time, we have worked closely with our customers to bring Intel-based smartphones to market in more than 20 countries throughout the world.” Later in the year, Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) will piggyback this launch with another chipset called “Bay Trail,” which would be designed to be used more more powerful tablet computers that are due out in the fourth quarter from partners like Lenovo, Dell, Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL) and Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ).

It is reported that these new Atom chips will support two cameras and will be featured on phones and Android-based tablets and be dual-core that can run at speeds from 1.2 to 2.0 GHz. These also will be equipped with security and authentication software for social networking and cloud-based online banking.

What do you think? Is there still time for Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) to get some of its old market share back in the mobile segment? We’d like your thoughts in the comments section below.

DISCLOSURE: I own no positions and any stocks mentioned.

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