CES: Intel to major on MIDs

December 23, 2008

Mobile Internet devices (MIDs) will be one of the main themes of the presence on processor giant Intel at next month’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The chip-maker is one of the leading advocates of this class of product, which seems heaven-sent to allow passengers throughout the aircraft to make the most of services like Aircell’s Gogo North American broadband offering.

Intermediate in size between the iPhone and Blackberry smartphones and ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs) like the Asus Eee, MIDs will make it possible to do things that up to now could only tackled with a laptop in the wide open spaces of the premium classes.

Designed to deliver entertainment, information and location-based services to consumers rather than business users, a MID prototype debuted at Intel’s developer conference last year.

The company says that MIDs will typically have a 4.5-6in screen, faster boot-up and lower retail cost than UMPCs, a streamlined, “small-screen-friendly” user interface, WiFi connectivity, 256-512 of RAM, and a screen resolution of 800 x 480 or 1024 x 600 pixels. Intel predicts a global market for 180 million MIDs a year by 2010. A number of other companies, including Nokia, are developing similar products.

Applications are expected to include Web access, instant messaging and voice-over-IP communications, and GPS location-based services. Features will include high-definition video, extended battery life and the ability to work with pervasive wireless services like the Sprint/Clearwire WiMAX-based Xohm.

In Las Vegas next month Anand Chandrasekher, general manager of Intel’s Ultra Mobility Group, will speak on a panel entitled “Wireless Meets Consumer Electronics: The Fundamental Shift to Mobility”. The company’s stand will showcase Intel Atom processor-based MIDs and UMPCs, as well as providing information on WiMAX and the emerging 4G cellular technologies.