Intel introduces SoCs for phones & tablets at MWC 2015

The company introduced the Intel Atom x3 processor series, Intel’s first integrated communications platform for entry and value tablets, phablets and smartphones. Combining 64-bit multi-core Intel Atom processors together with 3G or 4G LTE connectivity, the integrated communications SoC combines the applications processor, image sensor processor, graphics, audio, connectivity and power management components in a single system chipset. This integration allows device manufacturers to deliver full-featured tablets, phablets and smartphones at affordable price points for the rapidly growing entry and value market segments.

Intel is bringing the benefits of integrated Intel architecture and wireless communications to customers, including the China technology ecosystem, with greater velocity. Twenty companies, including ASUS and Jolla, have committed to delivering Intel Atom x3 designs.

The company also announced its first 14nm Intel Atom SoC, the Intel Atom x5 and x7 processor series for next-gen tablets and small-screen 2-in-1s. Offering 64-bit support for Windows and Android, Intel Gen 8 graphics, and an option to pair with next-gen LTE Advanced connectivity, the Intel Atom x5 and x7 processor series will power a range of mainstream to premium devices. The processors are also ‘conflict-free’, meaning that these products do not contain minerals (tin, tantalum, tungsten and/or gold) that are inadvertently funding human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Customers, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba, have already committed to deliver devices on this platform. The first devices are expected to be in the market in the first half of this year.

Intel also introduced its third-gen five-mode, LTE Advanced Category 10 modem. The Intel XMM 7360 supports 3x carrier aggregation and download speeds up to 450Mb/s. The device’s compact size and power efficiency enable the Intel XMM 7360 to accommodate a wide range of form factors, from smartphones and phablets to tablets and PCs. The modem also expands Intel’s portfolio of LTE solutions, giving device manufacturers a competitive option to quickly design and launch LTE devices in various market segments and geographies.

Building on the success of the world’s thinnest tablet, the Dell Venue 8, Krzanich showcased the Dell Venue 10 tablet, featuring a detachable keyboard and Intel RealSense snapshot technology. Targeting consumer and business users, the tablet is expected to be available soon.

In addition to working with Samsung to help protect Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge devices, Krzanich said Intel Security is also collaborating with LG Electronics to help secure personal data. LG Electronics will make McAfee Mobile Security from Intel Security available on the LG Watch Urbane LTE, delivering anti-theft capabilities that allow the owner to lock, locate and wipe the device, if needed. LG Android device users are already protected today with McAfee Mobile Security on their devices.

Krzanich announced new customers including Brightstar, Deutsche Telekom and Prestigio for the company’s True Key technology, a cross-platform application to address the challenge of passwords by using personal factors like facial identification and fingerprints to make logging in easier and safer. Deutsche Telekom will preinstall the True Key product for its customers in Europe. Prestigio will be one of the first mobile device manufacturers to launch the True Key application in Russia and across Europe, making the application available across all of its Android tablets and smartphones by the end of this year.

Krzanich also outlined how Intel is working with industry leaders to transform network infrastructure with standardised hardware and software, and helping to accelerate the industry’s move toward a flexible, agile software-defined infrastructure. This enables both telecomms and cloud service providers to improve network efficiencies and accelerate the delivery of new services and capabilities for consumers and businesses.

Alcatel-Lucent introduced its virtual radio access network (vRAN) solution, comprised of a virtualised baseband unit that uses general purpose servers with Intel Xeon processors to enable cost savings and increased network performance. The vRAN will be in customer trials this year and commercially available in 2016.

Ericsson announced a new generation of data center platforms for the Ericsson Cloud System that enable telecomms and cloud service providers to lower their total cost of ownership (TCO) and realise more flexibility and efficiency in their data centers. The company is using Intel Rack Scale Architecture, together with management and orchestration software, to optimise and scale cloud resources across private, public, enterprise and telecomms cloud domains, enabling improved services agility. Ericsson also announced that it is working with Intel Security on mobile security for 4G networks.

Huawei and Intel are collaborating to deliver robust cloud solutions that will enable telecomms service providers to transform their data centers. The companies will develop the next generation of Huawei’s FusionSphere based on Intel architecture, and will use the Data Plane Development Kit and Open vSwitch to increase network virtualisation performance of FusionSphere. These solutions aim to enhance performance that is optimised to minimise TCO for cloud workloads in a scalable and secure manner.

“The evolution of the mobile landscape and growth of smart, connected devices has led to increased demand for more connectivity and real-time, protected data on those devices,” said Krzanich. “All of these factors are driving a transformation of the network to accelerate the delivery of new personal computing experiences, services and capabilities in a safe and secure manner. Intel is one of the only companies in the world that can provide solutions end-to-end for the full spectrum of mobility.”