Date:14/04/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/04/14/stories/2004041401570700.htm

Back Intel in talks with vendors for home PC applications

Our Bureau

New Delhi , April 13

INTEL Corp is planning to launch a slew of products that promise to make your home computer an entertainment, education and communication tool.

In its effort to converge different applications on a single, more effective platform, Intel has set up a $200 million `Digital Home Fund' to finance smaller companies to develop new products and applications and is willing to tie up with Indian companies under the scheme.

"We are in talks with several vendors across the world for rolling out products that will be used for people to learn, communicate and entertain themselves. We are willing to fund such developments in India. While we see opportunity for Indian companies to come up with products that can be used globally, there will be also products that require Indian content," Intel Vice President and General Manager (Desktop Platforms Group), Mr William M Siu, said here.

Mr Siu said one clear product possibility was to take Indian movies to the people. "Entertain forms a key component of our digital home computers and we feel the Bollywood presents a unique opportunity," he said.

Terming the growing Indian economy as a "strategic market" for the group, Mr Siu said Intel was in talks with local vendors like Wipro and Zenith to roll out digital home PCs based on Intel platform."

Globally Intel has assisted companies like iCube, Musicmatch, Zensys, BridgeCo, and is currently looking for opportunities to work with Indian companies where it would provide funds and technology assistance to develop digital home products.