Intel Adds Platform Centers, Loses Support For ChipsetsIntel Adds Platform Centers, Loses Support For Chipsets

Intel is opening four "platform-definition" centers in locations around the world to help define and develop systems for emerging markets, the company disclosed Monday. Separately, research company In-Stat reported that Intel's effort to create platforms has resulted in a shrinking of third-party chipset support.

Platform-definition centers are being opened by Intel in Bangalore, India; Cairo, Egypt; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Shanghai, China. The centers primarily will serve the regions in which they're located.

Each center will be staffed with local designers and engineers. In addition, Intel will continue to promote a platform approach to creating new equipment designs, including the integration of hardware and software components from channel partners that have been tested and validated.

Intel also has established a worldwide headquarters for its channel platforms group in Shanghai.

Intel's strategy for the past two years of creating platform-level products is having an effect on the PC chipset market, according to a recent study by In-Stat. The research company says the PC chipset market will grow from $6.9 billion this year to $10.3 billion in 2009. In-Stat has found, however, that the chipset ecosystem supporting Intel processors is shrinking because of Intel's platform drive, while the ecosystem supporting processors from Advanced Micro Devices Inc. is growing.

"In just the next few years, new chipsets will be required to support multicore processors, new front-side bus architectures, new peripheral interfaces, and a growing list of features, such as virtualization and security," In-Stat analyst Chris Kissel said in a statement. "The chipset is a critical component in the PC design, and chipset designs are changing rapidly to support these new features driven by changing PC usage models."