Intel has developed a chip that allows mobile phone users to make or receive calls while simultaneously surfing the internet.

The new flash memory chip for the next generation of web-enabled phones is expected to appear on the US market in two years.

But the wait should be worth it, as next-generation mobile phones will incorporate more internet-related features. The versatility of these new phones requires what is known as a read-while-write flash memory device.

The new chip fulfils this function by making use of 'flexible partitions', which allow the processor to 'read' out of one partition while simultaneously 'writing' or erasing in another.

This improves the speed with which information can be stored and accessed, and enables upgrades such as video-friendly internet access to Wap phone functions.