Intel Develops New XScale Chip For Handhelds

Intel Wednesday confirmed that has released a new XScale chip designed to help handheld devices run longer on battery power.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based chip making giant said its XScale PXA255 is the latest upgrade of its PXA series. The chips are built for mobile devices that run intensive applications like MP3 audio decode, MPEG4 video decode, speech and handwriting recognition, and Java interpretation.

Like its previous counterpart — the PXA250 — the new XScale chip is an embedded application processor that comes in 200MHz, 300MHz and 400MHz speeds. The PXA225 is also ARM Architecture v.5TE compliant and application code compatible with Intel SA-1110 processor.

“These are part of standard improvements that we make to our products for customers,” Intel spokesman Mark Miller said.

Instead of sapping the battery, however, Intel said the PXA255 works with the power system to be able to run efficiently whether it is in full mode, idle or in hibernation.

The chips are expected to replace ones currently in production for manufacturers like Sony, Toshiba and Hewlett-Packard.

Intel said it has no intent on discontinuing its PXA220. Earlier in the day, Standard Microsystems said it has a Microsoft Windows CE .NET driver written for the Intel PXA250 architecture for its LAN91C111 Non-PCI 10/100 Mbps Single Chip Ethernet MAC+PHY Controller.