Mobile Internet Devices, the Future of the UMPC

For the mobile market, Intel isn't quite content with pretty much owning the notebook segment, so they are digging into the Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) market as well. That's why Intel has released the Ultra Mobile Platform 2007, which is based on the Intel A100 (downclocked Pentium M running at 600MHz, 90nm process node, 512KB L2 cache, 3W TDP), A110 (800MHz, 90nm process node, 512KB L2 cache, 3W TDP) processors, the Intel 945GU Express Chipset and the Intel ICH7U I/O controller hub.

Anand Chandrasekher, Intel senior vice president and general manager of the Ultra Mobility Group said: "Today's environment is primed for a truly personal, mobile Internet experience and the Intel Ultra Mobile platform 2007 combines the flexibility of a PC with the mobility of a handheld device. But we will not stop here. In 2008, Intel will deliver an entirely new platform based on Intel's 45nm low-power microarchitecture designed from the ground up to let people to carry their personal mobile Internet in their pocket."

The UMPC will have a follower in the likes of the Mobile Internet Device (MID), which is an even smaller version of UMPC built especially for Internet access. Combining this MID with a Linux OS, you get a very affordable mobile solution that allows you to do your work, and still keep the costs down. The previous name of the platform was McCaslin, which now has become the Ultra Mobile Platform 2007, and in the first half of 2008, Intel will deliver a new generation of platform for MID and UMPCs codenamed Menlow. It will use the the 45nm Hi-k new processor, called Silverthorne and the chipset for the platform will be called Poulsbo.