New Delhi: Intel chairman Craig Barrett is visiting India next week and there are indications that he would announce an investment of US$500mn in India during his visit to the country.

Half of this investment will go into Intel''s research lab and marketing division, the rest will be used for developing a community personal computer in tie-up with Xenitis.

On Monday, Intel and Xenitis will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the low-cost PC project. Priced at Rs11,000 the PC would be the cheapest machine with an Intel chip and would also be available in eight languages including Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi and Marathi.

The new Intel-powered PC, which will be made primarily for the rural and semi-urban areas of the country, will be a rugged version of the existing computers.

Irregular power supply and lack of proper air-conditioning would be some of the problems that the new product will address.

Consumers will also have the option to choose Microsoft software.

Xenitis sells low-cost PCs under brand names like Amar PC and Apna PC, powered by Cyrix chips and are sold at Rs9,999.