Krzanich Announces New Lower-Power Product Family, Demonstrates Upcoming LTE and Lead 14nm Products

SAN FRANCISCO — (BUSINESS WIRE) — September 10, 2013 — INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM – From data centers to ultra-mobile devices such as tablets, phones and wearables, computing segments are undergoing exciting and even game-changing transitions, said new Intel CEO Brian Krzanich during today’s opening session of the Intel Developer Forum. Krzanich laid out Intel’s vision and described how Intel is addressing each dynamic market segment – such as accelerating Intel’s progress in ultra-mobile devices – with new products over the next year and beyond, including a new, lower-power product family.

Krzanich said Intel plans to leave no segment untapped. “Innovation and industry transformation are happening more rapidly than ever before, which play to Intel’s strengths. We have the manufacturing technology leadership and architectural tools in place to push further into lower power regimes. We plan to shape and lead in all areas of computing.”

This year’s Intel Developer Forum marked the first keynote addresses by Krzanich and Intel President Renée James since assuming their new roles in May.

In her presentation, James envisioned a new era in which every device and every object computes, meaning that integrated computing solutions must be smaller, faster, more versatile and produced in higher volume.

“Semiconductor-based technology will continue to address the world’s most pressing problems and exciting opportunities, changing how we live our lives, run our cities and care for our health,” said James. “Intel has played a pivotal role in every previous technology transition and will continue to enable breakthroughs in the future.”

Accelerating Progress in Ultra-Mobile Devices

Krzanich said that Intel this week will introduce “Bay Trail,” Intel’s first 22nm system-on-a-chip (SoC) for mobile devices. “Bay Trail” is based on the company’s new low-power, high-performance Silvermont microarchitecture, which will power a range of innovative Android* and Windows* designs, most notably tablets and 2 in 1 devices.

Defining the expanding ultra-mobile segment as smartphones, tablets, 2 in 1 tablets that take on PC functions with add-on keyboards, and other devices beyond traditional mobile computers, he said that ultra-mobiles are a more dynamic segment than is often recognized.

“Smartphones and tablets are not the end-state,” he said. “The next wave of computing is still being defined. Wearable computers and sophisticated sensors and robotics are only some of the initial applications.”

As an example of how Intel will continue to use its manufacturing and architectural leadership to push further into lower power regimes, Krzanich announced the Intel Quark processor family. The new lower-power products will extend Intel’s reach to growing segments from the industrial Internet-of-Things to wearable computing. It is designed for applications where lower power and size take priority over higher performance.

Intel will sample form-factor reference boards based on the first product in this family during the fourth quarter of this year to help partners accelerate development of tailored, optimized solutions initially aimed at the industrial, energy and transportation segments.

As the next era of computing grows even more personal, wearables are a hotbed for innovation. Krzanich highlighted a bracelet as an example of a concept with reference designs under development, and said the company is actively pursuing opportunities with partners in this area.

In high-speed 4G wireless data communications, Krzanich said Intel’s new LTE solution provides a compelling alternative for multimode, multiband 4G connectivity, removing a critical barrier to Intel’s progress in the smartphone market segment. Intel is now shipping a multimode chip, the Intel® XMM™ 7160 modem, which is one of the world’s smallest and lowest-power multimode-multiband solutions for global LTE roaming.

As an example of the accelerating development pace under Intel’s new management team, Krzanich said that the company’s next-generation LTE product, the Intel® XMM™ 7260 modem, is now under development. Expected to ship in 2014, the Intel XMM 7260 modem will deliver LTE-Advanced features, such as carrier aggregation, timed with future advanced 4G network deployments. Krzanich showed the carrier aggregation feature of the Intel XMM 7260 modem successfully doubling throughput speeds during his keynote presentation.

He also demonstrated a smartphone platform featuring both the Intel XMM 7160 LTE solution and Intel’s next-generation Intel® Atom™ SoC for 2014 smartphones and tablets codenamed “Merrifield.” Based on the Silvermont microarchitecture, “Merrifield” will deliver increased performance, power-efficiency and battery life over Intel’s current-generation offering.

Intel Manufacturing Leadership

Citing continued, rapid innovation for PCs of the future, Krzanich demonstrated a 14nm-based “Broadwell” system. “Broadwell,” set to begin production by the end of this year, will be the lead product made using Intel’s 14nm manufacturing process. The first “Broadwell” products will deliver higher performance, longer battery life and low platform power points for 2 in 1 and fanless devices, Ultrabooks™ and various PC designs.

Saying that Intel will bring the full weight of its manufacturing process and architectural leadership to the Intel Atom processor family, he confirmed Intel intends to bring its Intel Atom processor and other products based on the next-generation “Airmont” microarchitecture to market on Intel’s leading-edge 14nm process technology beginning next year. Timing will vary by product segment.