Intel (INTC) spreads its wings

Posted Feb 4th 2008 9:45AM by Douglas McIntyre
Filed under: Launches, Industry, Intel (INTC), QUALCOMM Inc (QCOM), Texas Instruments (TXN), Broadcom Corp'A' (BRCM)

It would be nearly impossible to argue that Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) has not been one of the most successful tech companies of the last 25 years. It has about 75% of the PC and server chip market.

Intel's problem has been getting beyond computer chips and successfully selling products for other devices. It has watched Texas Instruments (NYSE: TXN) and Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) make huge strides in handset chips market.

Intel is making another push into portable devices [subscription required]. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company is starting to market chips for devices "that are between the size of a cellphone and a laptop computer."

Intel may wish it had stayed in the PC market. Aside from TI and Qualcomm, Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM) has had real success with its products for handsets. All of these other companies have contracts with handset and portable companies as well as proven products.

Being big may not work for Intel this time.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Tags: brcm, intc, inthenews, qcom, txn