After only six months, Intel Corp has quietly dropped development of its Quick Web caching software (CI No 3,329). The product was designed to speed web page delivery from internet service providers to their dialup customers. Dabbling with a new business model, Intel had persuaded some 2,500 ISPs and corporate customers to install the caching and compression toolkit on their server and to split the $5 per month charge to consumers with the microprocessor giant. In order to survive, Intel must generate continuing demand for its chips. Quick Web fit well with the corporate strategy of optimizing bandwidth by exploiting microprocessor power. But the last six months have seen the company come under heavy attack from the sub-$1000 PC. For the first time in years Intel chip fabs have excess capacity. Quick Web may have been culled in an attempt to refocus the company on absolute essentials – that is, on selling more chips. Even so, the demise of Quick Web has not damaged the larger caching market, according to Collaborative Research senior analyst Peter Christy. He points out that caching saves bandwidth and improves quality of service, and says that in spite of cable company moves to increase the size of internet pipes, the net remains slow. Caching is likely to remain a profitable niche for some years to come. Just not for Intel.
