News
Issue #2002 - 41 (October 2002)
(Updated Oct. 29, 2002)

TECHNOLOGY 

Intel Leads Industry Effort to Extend Battery Life to All-day 

In an effort to deliver all-day battery life for Intel-based laptop computers, Intel is forcing the issue of battery development by itself. Unwilling to leave it to traditional battery makers to develop longer-lasting power supplies, the chipmaker has formed the Mobile PC Extended Battery Life Working Group. The name sounds grandiose, but Dell Computer, Fujitsu, Microsoft, and Toshiba are among the effort's backers.

Intel says the mobile computing's mainstay battery--the lithium-ion cell--is lagging other wireless developments. The group is considering fuel cells and other alternatives that let people "cut the AC cord," says Intel's VP of Mobile services, Mr. Anand Chandrasekher.

Intel says the group is working toward a battery that lets people work on devices for an entire day on a single charge. The group will also address regulatory and environmental issues related to batteries. It hopes to produce usable technologies by 2004. 

(Source: InformationWeek, IDG News Service and Intel website) 

For more information: http://www.beoing.com

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory: We have stated many a time that this is one of the biggest weaknesses in our quest for using more powerful applications. Battery consumption is almost directly proportional to the speed of the network. Our progress on the faster chips and faster networks is greater than our progress in building better batteries. Intel's goal to have future laptops with WiFi (of 802.11a variety at 54 Mbps) is creditworthy. We applaud Intel and wish them well. Unless we set ambitious goals for improved batteries, we shall not get very far. Out of network vendors, Motorola is the only vendor doing useful research in this area.

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.