Showcases a range of cutting-edge ultrabook laptops using voice recognition and anti-theft technologies
Intel, which makes chips for over 70 per cent of the world’s personal computers (PCs), is desperately looking at India and other emerging markets to revive demand at a time when the PC business is facing its toughest year ever.
The company is betting big on the growth of its mainstay devices here in India, and showed off a range of cutting-edge ultrabook laptops using voice recognition and anti-theft technologies at a media event here on Friday.
While the explosion of tablets and smartphones, which mostly run on British firm ARM Holdings’ chips, has slowly eaten away into PC chip sales, for Intel, the silver lining is that India witnessed a 15 per cent growth in computer shipments in the last quarter (ended June 2012).
“We strongly believe that the PC remains the pre-dominant device for Internet usage. “It’s a very prevalent device. In India, with recent government stimulants in the form of necessary investment for broadband growth, we think PC sales will catch up the same way that sales in Brazil did,” said Gregory Pearson, Vice-President, General Manager, Worldwide Sales & Operations Group, Intel Corp, in an interaction with The Hindu.
Talking about the global perception of India’s tech industry, Mr. Pearson said people were amazed at the innovation coming out of the country. “While people, in general, have a complimentary view of India’s tech capabilities, I think from a computer-manufacturing perspective, the infrastructure just isn’t here yet. The tax structure, from what I’ve heard, between States is just too complicated. The overall environment isn’t yet conducive for foreign investment,” said Mr. Pearson.
“We will continue to evaluate our different options in India though, and I think if the country could get to a 40-50 per cent computer penetration - we would see manufacturers come here on a mass scale,” he added.
Intel is also looking at diversifying its revenue stream by supplying chips for car-infotainment systems, ATMs and the retail sector. “We held a car-manufacturers’ show a couple of months ago where we showcased some things. At this point, we are in talks with several manufacturers as they have shown a lot of interest,” said Debjani Ghosh, Managing Director, Sales and Marketing Group, Intel South Asia.
This correspondent was in New Delhi at the invitation of the company.
Keywords: Intel, anti-theft technologies, computer-manufacturing
