Intel pushes mobile computing on demand

Intel is trying to push the 'Martini model' of mobile computing, promoting access any time any place, anywhere.

In its mobile technology briefing at the Intel Developer Forum today, the processor company said it was working on pushing reliable computing on the move, by improving the devices, networks and standards.

Intel is looking at energy efficient platforms, Cmos radio, antennas, low power radios and Mimo, but there was little in the way of answers to the problems that were raised.

Instead, Intel used the session to highlight where it is focusing its research and development, and which issues it considered to be the main challenges over the next few years.

Along with issues of getting more technology into smaller devices, networks still need to be improved to handle the changing way they are used, because greater demands are being place on mobile networks by handheld devices.

Over the coming days, Intel is showing off the heterogeneous networks it has been working on with partners, using both traditional wireless IP methods and 3G Sim cards for authentication.

This is part of a five year Seamless Access initiative, and will include Wimax networks in the future. It means that users can simply access different types networks in a standard way using a device.

On the radio front for wireless communications, Intel is trying to minimise the number of distinct pieces of silicon required on a chip. This means they use less power, take up less space and will handle different radio standards more effectively.
It is now running a research project which has built Cmos Mimo transceivers. It uses 90nm silicon wafers and doubles the data rates to 100Mbits/sec on 11g network. Still at an early stage of development, Intel has worked on problems it has encountered, such as eliminating cross talk interference to the signal.

'Even small amounts of cross talk between the radio chain on the same chip will get you in trouble, because you get bleed through. Anything that causes cross talk reduces the effectiveness of the technology.

'When you put multiple radios on a single chip it's very difficult to solve problems like cross talk,' said Kevin Kahn, director of the Communications Technology lab.