Intel exec: Apple helps shape our roadmap
It's obvious that there is a strong partnership between Apple and Intel, but is this business relationship a one-way street?
Speaking at the Reuters Global Technology Summit on Wednesday, Tom Kilroy, Intel's senior vice president of sales and marketing, gave the following remarks about working with the Cupertino-based company:
"We work very closely with them and we're constantly looking down the road at what we can be doing relative to future products. I'd go as far as to say Apple helps shape our roadmap.
Apple -- they push us hard."
However, that doesn't mean that Intel is guaranteed a spot in Mac OS computers forever as Kilroy couldn't confirm the how long Intel would be involved with Apple.
Nevertheless, it's still a telling statement. Even though Intel produces the supermajority of chips for personal computers worldwide, are the marching orders really coming from one of the many computer manufacturers it serves? Yet, it doesn't seem that surprising when you really think of it. Even though Mac-based computers don't make up as much of the PC market share, Apple certainly has a strong-enough brand recognition to charge rather exorbitant price tags that consumers are still willing to pay.
Intel does have other plans though, including nearly a dozen new personal tablets (and presumably none made by Apple) that will roll out this year with its chips inside. But let's not forget that Intel's relationship with Microsoft is on the rocks this week after some rather "loose" statements made about Windows 8.
Related coverage on ZDNet:
- Intel exec shares more on Microsoft's Windows 8 plans
- Apple to bring Thunderbolt and Sandy Bridge to the Macbook Air this summer
- Intel: We have ARM license, no plans to use it
- Intel's Otellini: Tablet race is nowhere near finished
- Intel focusing on building universal chips for multiple devices, platforms