Intel Inside the OLPC

Here’s an interesting turn of events: Intel has joined the One Laptop Per Child project.

The chipmaker on Friday pledged to collaborate with the OLPC organization on technology and educational content under an agreement that also gives it a seat on the OLPC’s board of directors.

Why, after accusing Intel of working to subvert its $100 laptop for school children, did OPLC forge an alliance with the chipmaker? It’s a pragmatic move. Intel can bring vast resources, including technology, development personnel and funding (although nothing was announced with regard to any monetary investment by Intel), to the project. But why does Intel, which is offering its own low-cost Classmate PC for similar purposes, want to work with the OLPC? I believe it’s looking at the big picture, here. For Intel, continued growth warrants access to new markets. There, the OLPC project has been opening up doors. (Although I think it’s also safe to assume Intel aims to supply hardware for the OLPC, which currently uses and AMD processor, in the future as well.)

Clearly large corporations have the ability—and some would say obligation—to help people. The OLPC and Intel by proxy is doing just that by working to help individuals who would not normally have access to computers to note only get a brand new laptop, but to use it for education. But I still believe that the bottom line, here, for Intel, AMD and others is creating new markets. Intel wants to be the involved in developing new markets for computers. It’s about winning the hearts and minds of the next 100 million computer buyers.