Intel has moved to underscore its credentials in the mobile PC market with the official launch of its Pentium III-M series of chips.

Formerly codenamed Tualatin, the III-M runs at cooler temperatures while consuming less power than its predecessors. It is aimed squarely at preventing chip latecomer Transmeta from making any more inroads with its Crusoe series of processors.

The new chip will be available at speeds of 866Mhz, 933Mhz, 1Ghz and 1.13Ghz.

Transmeta has had some success in Japan and Asia but US laptop makers have preferred to stick with the status quo of Intel, with AMD as a secondary supplier.

A slew of PC makers announced that they will deliver products using the new Intel chip, including Dell, Hewlett Packard, IBM and Sony. Each vendor made announcements emphasising that they would wring additional hours out of batteries because of the power saving properties of the III-M.