Intel's Centrino

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Authors: Ravi Madapati,
Faculty Member,
ICMR (IBS Center for Management Research).

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The Centrino's USP

As the use of video, audio and detailed graphics became more prevalent, and the number and types of applications increased and mobile processing power have become more important. Centrino was positioned as a product that allowed users to get superior performance when traveling, commuting or at home.

Centrino was designed to meet the multi-tasking needs of a constantly computing lifestyle. Users could move between a multimedia slideshow and a home video with ease due to technology that offered faster execution of instructions at lower power. With support for USB 2.0, Centrino increased performance with peripherals and provided backward compatibility with USB 1.0 devices. Centrino connections to the Internet or a corporate network could be made without wires or an add-on adapter card, due to the integrated WLAN capability. WLAN used radio waves to connect computers to each other, to the Internet or to wired networks. Centrino supported WLAN standards and enabled wireless connectivity from WLAN networks- including thousands of hotspots⁶ worldwide.

Hotspots provided WLAN service, for free or for a small fee, from a wide variety of public meeting areas, including coffee shops, airport lounges and convention centers. To use these hotspots, computers had to be configured with Wi-Fi certified technology so that connections could be made with other Wi-Fi certified products. Wi-Fi certifications were included in Centrino.

Centrino supported a wide range of industry WLAN security standards and leading third party solutions. Intel had teamed up with VeriSign and Check Point to enhance and optimize its products to provide a better wireless security solution. In addition, Intel and Cisco had come together to extend Centrino's security capabilities to support leading wireless security protocols (LEAP, TKIP, WPA).

To fit high-performance processors into all PC designs, including slim and ultra-slim notebooks, Centrino used leading edge Micro FCPGA (Flip Chip Pin Grid Array) and Micro FCBGA (Flip Chip Ball Grid Array) packaging technology. This technology was optimized for a range of thinner, lighter notebook PC designs that were less than one inch thick. Centrino made new notebook products further minimize thermal power, the target power level at which mobile systems worked best and used the least amount of energy. Centrino technology enabled computer makers to design sleeker, smaller portable computers included the special Low Volt (LV) and Ultra Low Volt (ULV) options. These options set the processor to run at a lower voltage specification, which was critical to lowering thermal power in tablet designs and extra-slim notebooks that were less than one inch thick and Centrino made this possible.

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6] A Hotspot is an increasingly popular way to work and play on the go. Hotspots provide wireless LAN service, for free or for a fee, from a wide variety of public meeting areas, including coffee shops and airport lounges. There are currently thousands of hotspots worldwide and new access points are being added daily.