AMD launches first computer brand

Mumbai: Chip maker Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD) has unveiled its first computer brand that is targetted at  small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

According to industry sources, big-business customers and small and medium businesses essentially look for stability, longevity, reliability, manageability and good performance in the computers they buy for employees.

AMD's Business Class desktop computers will be followed by notebook PCs sometime during the second half of 2008. Reports indicate that most computer brands such as Acer, Dell, the two biggest PC makers and Fujitsu-Siemens, Hewlett-Packard Co, and Lenovo would market the range.

Irvine, California based ThinkCP Technologies has also announced that ThinkCP is now authorised by AMD to integrate and deliver AMD Business Class Technology Desktop Systems to customers.

The new product line is part of AMD's attempts to regain market share that arch rival Intel Corporation won back from AMD in 2007. Intel had lost significant market share to AMD is 2005 and some part of 2006, and in reacquiring its lost ground, has made AMD report six consecutive quarters of net losses. AMD is also looking to replicate the success it had with its Opteron range of microprocessors, which challenged Intel's dominance of the server market over the last few years.

AMD's Business Class range would be initially marketed to small- and medium-size businesses, but is designed to be ramped up to the large corporations' needs as well. AMD also unveiled the first AMD commercial desktop platform solution, which configures in a variety of ways to better meet customer needs. The platform includes a new comprehensive line up of stable processors, with up to 24-month stability and longevity from initial product availability.