Briefly: Intel’s Bay Trail, Gen-i scores Corys, Microsoft PR

Wednesday, 4 September 2013, 10:16 am
Column: Bill Bennett

Intel is due to take the wraps of its Bay Trail Atom processor next week. The chip aims to bridge the ever-narrowing gap between PCs and tablets, but the headline news is that it supports both Windows and Android. That means you can expect to see a slew of dual-boot devices able to switch quickly between the two operating systems.

Bay Trail uses 22nm technology. It promises the same low power consumption and long battery life that Intel delivered in the earlier Clover Trail processor, while doubling the performance.

From a user point of view the main story is that Intel’s new chip is likely to bring about a fresh wave of mobile devices with lower price points. Some US analysts expect to see tablets using the chips go on sale for as little as US$150.

The big danger Intel faces launching the new processor is that it will cannibalise the company’s Core range of processors used in traditional PCs. Maybe it will. In truth Intel has little option, the PC market is in a tail spin and Bay Trail offers a route out of a declining market. Bay Trail gives Intel a better chance of succeeding in the fast-growing mobile device sector.

• Telecom NZ IT division Gen-i says it beat Vodafone to win a wide-ranging five-year contract with Corys Electrical. The deal includes trans-Tasman managed IP and WAN services linking 42 branches in New Zealand with the company’s data centre in Melbourne. Corys was already a Gen-i customer, this week’ deal is an extension of an existing relationship. The customer says being able to pool mobile call minutes across the organisation was a factor in awarding the contract.

• A PR own-goal at Microsoft Australia sees journalist Stilgherrian banned from this year’s Tech Ed conference officially because of off-colour tweets from last year’s event. As Delimiter’s Renai LeMay points out, Stilgherrian can go over the top, but the ban looks over the top and causes Microsoft more problems than it solves.

• Social media player Twitter opens an Australian office in Sydney which, sigh, is likely to run things for New Zealand too. The company also announced the appointment of Karen Stocks as the Australian managing director.

Very exciting day, I will be joining the Twitter team in Australia as Managing Director!
— Karen Stocks (@KazStocks) September 1, 2013

Related posts:
1. Briefly: Ballmer quits, telcos support Tics, GCSB warnings, Wynyard wins Queensland Rail
2. Nokia submits to the inevitable Microsoft juggernaut
3. NZ blogger scores iOS7 launch scoop
4. Briefly: Greens on price gouging, SLI Systems loss, MS boosts Skydrive Pro

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Bill Bennett

Freelance journalist.

Auckland-based Bill Bennett writes technology and business stories that are directly relevant to New Zealand readers.

His emphasis is on telecommunications, but he also covers other aspects of technology and business. You can find his features in the New Zealand Herald and hear him regularly on RNZ Nine to Noon and the NZ Tech Podcast.

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