Intel claims vPro will combat security issues

Intel is aiming to replicate the success of its Centrino mobile initiative on business PCs with the launch of vPro, according to market watcher iSuppli.

Intel’s latest business-PC initiative, vPro, is designed to tackle desktop PC security, manageability and energy concerns. Intel has claimed that vPro will help businesses to deal with the economic and security implications of threats such as viruses, spyware and identity theft.

The chip maker has already lined up an array of software partners to support vPro in their products. They include Cisco, Adobe, Symantec, Novell, Microsoft, Computer Associates, Hewlett-Packard and IBM.

Matthew Wilkins, senior analyst at iSuppli’s market intelligence group, said: “The obvious precedent for vPro is Intel’s Centrino initiative, when the company created a well-defined programme for notebook PCs. Centrino undoubtedly helped Intel in its battle for microprocessor market share with AMD. With vPro, Intel wants to replicate the same Centrino magic in the business desktop PC market.

“While the announcement concentrated on vPro for desktop PCs, the technology is also a good match for business notebooks. We expect vPro to eventually become part of Intel’s business notebook offerings.”

At the heart of vPro is Intel’s Core microarchitecture dual-core processor, a 64bit chip that promises performance gains and reductions in power consumption. It will feature the second generation of Intel Active Management Technology (AMT) and Virtualisation Technology (VT). VT will be integrated into the dual-core processor, while the next version of AMT will be integrated into the new platform chipset.

Symantec has already agreed to work with Intel to build security solutions that offer an isolated environment outside the main PC operating system. This will be a virtual environment that the company has claimed will be tamper-proof.

William Swope, vice-president of Intel, said: “Like Intel Centrino mobile technology and Viiv technology, vPro will bring together world-class innovations throughout the processor, chipsets, networking and software. This technology advances desktop PCs, offering businesses security and manageability that hasn’t been available before, all on one of the most powerful and energy efficient PCs in the market.”

Intel will be careful to ensure backwards compatibility for business PCs by making vPro part of its Stable Image Platform programme. This guarantees that the platform will remain unchanged for five quarters after launch.

martin_lynch@vnu.co.uk