Laptops

China (mainland) – Intel Corp., the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, is set to collaborate with China Mobile Ltd in launching netbooks targeted at the mainland China market. The netbooks will bundle TD-SCDMA 3G services from China Mobile, which is the wold’s largest mobile network operator in terms of subscriber base.

The TD-SCDMA netbook will add to Intel’s lineup of wireless Internet access-enabled ultramobile PCs (UMPCs). Intel has previously teamed up with Hasee Computer Co. Ltd, a mainland-China based PC maker, in marketing its Centrino 2 laptops using China Telecom Corp. Ltd’s Wi-Fi services on the mainland.

Intel has also announced plans to expand production capacity for its Atom processors, which are specially developed for netbooks.

Growing netbook market share draws mixed reactions from laptop vendors

Netbooks have intensified their presence with a 90 percent share in the ultramobile device (UMD) market this year, according to ABI Research. Gartner forecasts that the netbook market will grow to 50 million units by 2012, prompting more PC vendors to follow ASUSTeK’s lead in launching smaller and cheaper versions of laptops. Some PC makers estimate 2008 netbook sales to reach 15 million units.

While some laptop vendors expressed fears of netbooks taking a slice off laptop sales, particularly at the present global economic state, others regard netbooks and laptops as independent segments. Many companies, including Intel, believe that netbooks will become—and are likely to remain—supplementary products to high-performance and more powerful laptops.