Intel forms network investment fund

Separately, Intel said today that it was acquiring NetBoost, a hardware and software maker which will work with Intel on tools used to support the IX Architecture. Intel did not say how much it was paying for NetBoost, but said that it had made a minority investment in the company last year.

The IX Architecture, which Intel is formally launching today, is designed to help system designers add networking functions quickly and more efficiently. NetBoost's application programming interfaces and software libraries are used by software developers and communications equipment makers to develop things like firewalls, virtual private network gateways and intrusion detection systems. NetBoost will become subsidiary of Intel, and CEO Len Rand will become general manager.

The Intel Communications Fund will typically make minority investments of $10m or less, the company said. Intel's current investment portfolio includes around 275 companies and is valued at approximately $3.5bn. Intel said the fund would also invest in companies that support Intel's voice and data programs.