LG Electronics announced yesterday that it is working on mobile internet devices (MIDs) based on Intel's second-generation MID hardware platform, which is expected to come to market in 2010. According to Intel the new MID platform, codenamed Moorestown, will reduce idle power consumption by more than ten times compared to Intel's Atom, which is used to drive low-end notebooks and netbooks. Intel's Pankaj Kedia says this reduction will result in smaller form factors, longer battery life and extended standby times.
"As portable devices deliver a PC-like internet experience, they will evolve into multiple flavors - netbooks, entertainment MIDs, gaming MIDs, navigation MIDs and communication MIDs that allow users to communicate via Facebook, IM, chat, blog, email and voice calls," said Kedia. Collectively, Intel believes this range of MIDs will represent a market of 400 to 500 million units over the next three to five years.
LG launched a netbook based on the Intel Atom processor in the fourth quarter of 2008. Jung Jun Lee, head of LG's Mobile Communications Business Division, expects the MID segment to drive growth at the company.
LG is also working with Ericsson to bring 3G network capability to its planned MID. Ericsson has supplied mobile broadband modules for LG's notebooks and netbooks since the third quarter of 2008.