Marvell Purchases Intel's XScale Product Line

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.intel.com/pressroom/archive/releases/20060627corp.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.intel.com/pressroom/arch...0060627corp.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Marvell Technology Group, Ltd. and Intel Corporation today announced that they have signed an agreement for Intel to sell its communications and application processor business to Marvell for a purchase price of $600 million plus the assumption by Marvell of certain liabilities. The planned sale will give Marvell a strong presence in the growing market segment for processors used in smart handheld devices. The sale also will enable Intel to focus its investments on its core businesses, including high-performance, low-power Intel Architecture-based processors and emerging technologies for mobile computing, including Wi-Fi and WiMAX broadband wireless technologies. The transaction is expected to close in approximately four to five months and is subject to regulatory review and other normal closing conditions."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20060627-IntelMarvell.jpg" /><br /><br />Earlier in the month, Janak <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=49211">posted</a> on reports of Intel possibly selling their XScale product line to another company. A press release published today confirmed it. So, what does this mean for our beloved XScale? Not much. <a href="http://www.intel.com/">Intel</a> will continue to manufacture the processors and supply them to device manufacturers during the transition period, and after the takeover, <a href="http://www.marvell.com">Marvell</a> is expected to continue active development and production. And if all else fails, we can always rely on Samsung and Texas Instruments to deliver the goods.

[Kamokazi]

Here's a crazy theory of mine:

Intel is planning on a x86 processor for mobile devices.

Why? The way I see it, there would only be three reasons for getting rid of it. A) They want to refocus on Laptop, Desktop, and Server chips, aw well as other areas, which is possible but I don't see why they wouldn't want to grow their business. B) They aren't making enough money off the Xscale line, or don't think they will be able to make enough. Unlikely because it's estabilished and a huge area for expansion. Or C), they are making a x86 chip that consumes so little power that mobile devices can run it. They are working on power-saving chips for laptops and desktops, couldn't a side product of this be a less powerful, but low heat and power chip suitable for phones and PDAs?

Just my 2 cents, I don't see why Intel would want to leave a market that is due for growth.

[Phoenix]

...if all else fails, we can always rely on Samsung and Texas Instruments to deliver the goods.

Samsung? I'm not familiar enough with the performance of their procs to know if they're good or not. They're brand new, so the jury's out on that one.

But TI delivering the goods? Hardly. The day TI actually manages to dump their O'CRAP procs and make something that truly works, will be a day of days.

Until something better comes along, I'll be looking for products with an XScale heartbeat. As I always do.

[Darius Wey]

Samsung? I'm not familiar enough with the performance of their procs to know if they're good or not. They're brand new, so the jury's out on that one.

Samsung isn't really new. They've had their processors in Pocket PCs for many years now. One of the current devices, the M600, features a Samsung S3C2440 400MHz processor, and it, thanks to the processor and a few other factors, is one of the fastest Windows Mobile 5.0-based Phone Edition devices around.