Intel launches Atom processor

Intel EM Ltd., launched the Intel Atom processor, a state of the art high performance and power saving processor for basic and purpose-driven Internet usage by mobile computing users.

Country Business Manager-Sri Lanka, Intel EM Ltd., Indika De Zoysa said the processor enables users to be connected in a affordable and easy-to-use manner. "Sri Lanka's IT literacy rate is 12 per cent. The emergence of these affordable computing devices will help achieve 60 per cent IT literacy by 2010", De Zoysa said.

The Intel Atom Processor is manufactured with the world's smallest transistors based on industry-leading 45nm high-k metal gate technology.

The processors can be used for netbooks and nettops and other embedded devices for Internet facilities. Netbooks are compact rugged devices equipped with WiMAX broadband wireless network.

De Zoysa said the company has initiated programs to improve IT literacy among students in rural schools. There are only 50,000 computers for around 3.9 million schoolchildren. The computer to students ratio is 1:80.

"The low penetration of the PC market is due to the cost factor. With the decline in prices towards the end of the year will result in an increase in the number of computer users", he said.

It took 35 years to achieve one billion users of computers. The industry wants to achieve the next billion users of computers within a shorter period. LF