Without appearing to miss a stride following its recent second quarter revenue warning, Intel Corp went right back to business yesterday, outlining plans to improve technologies available for developers of mobile and portable PCs which it claims will make them easier to manage remotely and less costly for businesses to maintain. It’s also touting its new MMX multimedia-enabled Pentium II processor as the ideal CPU engine to drive video conferencing systems, and has got Informix Software Inc to write a version of its Universal Database DataBlade development toolkit tuned specifically to take advantage of MMX extensions. The cost of ownership issue that Sun Microsystems Inc and others have thrust center stage with their promotion of inexpensive, easy maintenance ‘thin client’ computers versus ‘fat’ desktop PCs that Intel and Microsoft Corp have traditionally promoted has prompted Intel to explain most of its new technology announcements in terms of the savings businesses can make using it, as well as the usual kinds of performance claims. With this issue firmly in mind, Intel has written a new set of guidelines for developers of that define a set management features which are required for enabling remote installation, configuration and maintenance of remote devices such as portable computers which might only connect to a company’s network occasionally, and then only over a regular telephone line. Its Wired for Management Baseline Specification now includes support for exchangeable devices such as PC cards and swappable disk drives as well as notebook docking stataions. Intel also promises to enhance its LANdesk mobile PC management software and is offering a new development toolkit for creating drivers that will extend PC management applications to work with portable PCs using its processors. Intel is making a renewed effort to kindle interest in its ProShare video conferencing technologies – one of its favorite demonstration applications because it gives its executives a chance to participate in industry events without leaving their desks. Intel’s putting its new Pentium II MMX processor into a new TeamStation computer package designed for video, audio and data conferencing. The 233MHz system includes ProShare technologies, EtherExpress LAN adapter, a camera, wireless keyboard and mouse and two-way audio speaker phone. It costs from $10,000. Intel claims TeamStation’s support for industry standards in the area means users can connect with other manufacturer’s video conferencing systems. A new version of its Business Video Conferencing with ProShare technology which supports ISDN and LAN network connections has been tailored for MMX and is priced from $1,200.
