Windows Phone Thoughts: Intel Plans Low-Power Derivatives of x86 Chips

"More details have emerged of Intel's plan to bring chips based on the same designs as its PC chips to handhelds and consumer electronics. The chipmaker has formed the Low Power Intel Architecture (LPIA) project to try to devise energy-efficient versions of its x86 processors, software and components for handhelds, micro PCs and other devices. The company has also developed concept phones and portable video players containing prototype chips."

According to this article at ZDNet, Intel has plans to release low-power derivatives of its x86 chips, purely for use on mobile devices (and other consumer electronics). Work performed at the Intel Labs has shown that such chips in a handheld could yield a battery life of eight hours or more, with maximum power consumption slated at 5W. I'm all for faster, power-friendly Pocket PCs, so I'll certainly be keeping an eye on this to see where it all goes.