onehome

The world's biggest computer processor maker Intel is facing mounting challenges in China, as two other players are persuading PC manufacturers to adopt their products.

Taiwan-based VIA Technologies, the world's third largest central processing unit (CPU) maker,said last Tuesday in Beijing that eight notebook computer makers would start to sell products embedded with its Antaur processors in the mainland market.

The Antaur processors, which feature lower power consumption, longer battery life and lighter weight compared with Intel's Pentium III M chips, have won favour from vendors including three small output notebook makers - Tsinghua Unisplendor, Furi Electronics and BOE Technology.

US big names IBM and HP and the second biggest domestic computer maker Founder Technologies have decided to make and market Antaur-based notebooks in China, according to Frank Jeng, VIA's marketing director for Asia Pacific region.

VIA Technologies will also supply Antaur processors with wireless local area network (WLAN) function this year to challenge Intel's Centrino chips released in March, which are characterized by wireless broadband Internet connection and low power consumption.

It is the second time in one month that so many computer makers endorsed non-Intel processors in China. The other challenge has come from US-based Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).

US information technology giant Hewlett Packard recently released two models of AMD chip-based desktops at a price as low as 4,999 yuan (US$604), the first time that a top-10 vendor supported AMD processors.

US-based AMD also signed another two domestic vendors -Tsinghua Unisplendor and Amoisonic - on June 30 to provide processors for their notebooks.

It was reported AMD had signed a preliminary agreement with China's biggest computer maker Legend Group to make computers with AMD CPUs.

However, Intel remains the dominant player in China's CPU market with more than 90 per cent share of the pie. AMD and VIA are struggling to win recognition from customers and to break Intel's control of computer makers.

In spite of their inferior market position, AMD and VIA Technologies are wielding a low-price strategy to win support from computer vendors. The game plan is compelling with market demand slowing down and competition building up.

"It is a natural choice of computer makers," said Shen Lin, computing manager of US IT market research house International Data Corporation (IDC)'s China branch.

Shen explained that every computer maker is trying to bring down its cost, but there is little room in other peripherals like monitors and CD-ROMs.

But PC makers can use AMD or VIA CPUs instead of costlier Intel ones.

Notebooks priced lower can compete with desktops.

"The average price of a desktop computer is around 5,000 yuan (US$603). But if we can make the price of a notebook drop to 6,000 yuan, it will be very attractive to consumers, who might replace their desktops with notebooks," said VIA's Frank Jeng.

Nevertheless, IDC's Shen Lin believed it was still too early to say that Intel's monopoly was broken in China.

"The only CPU knowledge that most consumers have is 'Pentium Inside', so it will be a long way for other players to establish their own brand images," Shen Lin said.

Editor: Li Guixiang.


		查看/发表评论