Intel Partners, Intel Distributors, Intel Builders and Intel Resellers

The giant chip maker appoints a new COO, CIO and executives to run its PC and data center groups.

Intel saw record revenue of $54 billion in 2011, with officials now planning for efforts in smartphones, tablets and ultrabooks in 2012.

AMD is readying its upcoming Trinity platform for its ultrathin thin-and-light notebooks, which will cost less than Intel s high-profile ultrabooks, according to reports.

Of the more than 25 million cache SSDs to be shipped this year, about 22 million units will be present in Ultrabooks.

The influx of smartphones and tablets into the market creates challenges for consumers and device vendors alike.

Intel is ramping up its efforts to move into the tablet and smartphone spaces through a reorganization that is bringing together four divisions to create a mobile and communications unit.

Some analysts expect AMD, like Intel, will be forced to lower quarterly forecasts due to HDD shortages caused by the Thailand flooding. However, others say AMD may be in a better position than its larger rival.

Intel s EPSD unit, which sells hardware, software and services to systems makers, will grow is motherboard and chassis offerings and software capabilities in 2012.

Ultrabooks, championed by Intel, will rapidly gain popularity over the next several years, and will boost the entire supply chain, according to IHS iSuppli analysts.

McAfee used its SecurityAlliance Partner Summit to showcase its first product co-developed with Intel -- DeepSAFE -- and to provide details about some new channel initiatives.

Intel hit record financial numbers for the sixth consecutive quarter, thanks in large part to strong PC sales into corporations and emerging markets. However, Atom sales continue to struggle.

A day after rival Acer introduced its first ultrabook, Asus announced that it will start selling its first two systems, called Zenbooks, this week.

Intel and Google will collaborate to optimize the Android OS for Intel s Atom processor platform, helping the chip maker in its push into the smartphone market.

Intel s $24 million investment dovetails with the chip maker s own software efforts in such areas as cloud services, embedded computing and security.

Initially Intel Federal will have offices in Oregon, California and the Washington, D.C. area.

Intel reportedly is refusing to cut CPU prices in half to help OEMs improve profitability from their ultrabooks, according to news reports. Instead, Intel is offering a 20 percent cut for top-tier system vendors.

The M71z’s 20-inch display, offered as an optional touch-screen, is one of several productivity and security features.