Intel to add Manitoba to the menu

Intel is adding one more item to its menu of dishes for wireless cell phone makers.

The company confirmed on Tuesday that the code name for the "Internet on a chip" processor it's been working on since last year is "Manitoba" and that it plans to announce the chip in 2002.

Manitoba integrates flash memory, a digital signal processor, and an XScale processor core onto a single chip. It will be targeted at cell phone makers developing products for high-speed wireless networks, such as GPRS (General Pack Radio Service) networks. Manitoba will help in the development of phones that let users wirelessly access the Web and play audio files, as well as make basic phone calls.

Intel representatives declined to comment for this story.

Manitoba joins StrongArm and XScale as technologies targeting handheld devices.

Because it integrates different components, Manitoba could mean shorter development time and cost and could speed up the time it takes to get new devices to market. The integrated chip should also save space and power in future devices.

Intel rival Texas Instruments is working on an equivalent technology and is testing it with customers now.