Sharp Corp said it will use a processor from Intel Corp in a version of its hand-held computer because of the chip's power-saving features and ability to handle several functions at once.
The first major manufacturer to introduce a hand-held computer using the Linux operating system will use Intel's StrongARM chip, said Hiroshi Uno, general manager of Sharp's mobile systems division, in an interview. The device is designed specifically to show video.
Osaka-based Sharp, which has used Hitachi Ltd processors until now, has developed a hand-held computer capable of playing movie previews, games and music, functions that demand extra battery power and chip performance.
Sharp's choice of Intel's chip "is a step forward to curb costs and raise productivity by using a global standard," said Katsushi Shiga, principal analyst at Gartner Group Japan KK. "I expect price competition to accelerate among hand-helds as in the PC market."
Sharp picked the Intel chip "because it offers the lowest power consumption and the best functions" for the new model, Uno said. In Japan, the company may replace Hitachi's processor in its Zaurus hand-helds once it develops technology to allow existing software to run on a different chip, Uno said.
The company's hand-held devices compete with similar products from Palm Inc and Pocket PCs running on Microsoft Corp's software. Sharp will introduce a Linux-based model abroad later this year.
Intel's StrongARM chips are used in Compaq Computer Corp's iPaq Pocket PCs. Digital Equipment Corp and Advanced RISC Machines Ltd developed the chips as high-speed versions of ARM's microprocessors. ARM chips are made by various makers for hand-held devices, including portable game players and phones.
Sony Corp's Clie electronic organizers, which run on Palm's operating system software, use a chip from Motorola Inc.
A prototype using the Intel chip will be displayed at the JavaOne Conference starting June 4.
The event, organized by Sun Microsystems Inc, is a showcase of products and services using Sun's Java programming language, which runs on all computer operating systems.
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