Munich, 25 Apr 2006
Intel has introduced vPro, its next-generation business desktop platform, at a conference in Germany.
The company claims it features higher CPU speed, better power efficiency, and integrated manageability, virtualisation and networking.
The core component is a dual-core processor codenamed Conroe, which offers "three times the previous highest business desktop processing speed and power efficiency", Intel says.
The other building blocks are the Intel 965 chipset, the Intel Pro/1000 gigabit networking interface, Stable Image Platform Program graphics technology, Active Management Technology and hardware virtualisation.
Essentially a departure from its processor-only offerings, this 'platformisation` strategy offers three "pillars of value" in built-in management, "proactive" security and energy efficiency, said Pat Gelsinger, Intel VP and GM, Digital Enterprise Group, at a briefing this week in Munich, Germany.
"Down-the-wire installations and updates currently work for 87% of PCs. But for the remaining 13%, this is not possible, due to factors such as that the PC is switched off, the operating system is unbootable, a file is infected and so on. This 13% represents 46% of PC support cost. vPro`s separate management agent allows the PC to be audited, securely awakened and updated, remote-repaired, its virus signatures verified and so on, whether it is on or off," Gelsinger said.
As regards proactive security, Gelsinger said as soon as a PC exhibits suspicious activity, such as high mailing activity, it can be disconnected. Its remote management capability means it can be updated and fixed out-of-band.
vPro`s virtualisation represents a highly programmable interface for partners to embed functionality, such as firewalling or filtering mechanisms, into the chip, he added.
Products based on vPro will ship in the second half of this year. The platform`s functionalities will be extended to the current mobile Centrino platform in 2007.
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