IBM cuts power on handheld chips

PowerPC 405LP an alternative to bigger batteries, claims Big Blue

IBM is targeting handhelds with its low power PowerPC 405LP a chip. Communications manager Rupert Deighton said that IBM's energy saving chips are already used in the mainframe world, and that they have increased sales opportunities.

"In the business world, low consumption technology is becoming a major plus for companies when buying," he said.

"Energy savings are going to become more important in the future. If you look at the way the IT world is growing, it is made up of lots of interconnected devices that are run by server and storage farms which burn up a lot of energy. Large corporations can save thousands of pounds through low power consumption technology."

The system-on chip improves power efficiency with circuitry that shuts off certain parts when not in use, thus reducing power consumption.

In terms of mobile working, IBM said that businesses can benefit from longer battery lives. Deighton said that, over the past 10 years, battery manufacturers have not made as much progress as chip makers, and that chip technology could solve the problems faced by mobile workers.

"In the handheld world we can use these chips, rather than bigger batteries, and save power," he said.

However, John Bateman, operations manager at white box manufacturer Satelcom, said that, while reducing energy consumption was an advantage, the main benefit of these processors was their lower running temperature.

"These new chips make it easier for manufacturers to design because the devices require less air conditioning, which takes up a lot of space," he explained. "Low-power chips run at a lower temperature and are less reliant on fans to keep the temperature down. This is good news, because mechanical fans are liable to break down."