Intel chips to support location-based services

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Intel Corp. is developing support for location-based services in its mobile processor line that will allow computers to access information based on their location, a company executive said Tuesday.

"When we're talking about laptops, location-aware is one of the usage models we're looking at," said Mooly Eden, vice president and director of marketing at Intel's Mobile Platforms Group, speaking on the sidelines of the Computex 2004 exhibition in Taipei.

"The exact way we're going to implement it, the exact way we are going to do it, is something we're exploring," Eden said. "When the right time comes we will add it to the mobile platform."

Support for location-based services will be offered by the next version of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system, known as Longhorn.

Among the potential applications envisioned by Microsoft is the ability for computers to switch default printers and automatically connect to a preconfigured wireless network based on the specific location of the computer, as well as get directions to destinations and directory search services that prioritize merchants located nearby, according to a presentation prepared by Microsoft executives for the WinHEC 2004 conference held in Taipei from May 26-27.

Microsoft hopes that hardware makers, software developers and Internet service providers will support the location-based capabilities to be offered in Longhorn.

Computex runs through Saturday.