Intel completes Wind River buy

Chip giant Intel has successfully completed its $884 million (£541 million) purchase of embedded software maker Wind River – a deal which will help Intel come good on its promise to diversify outside of the traditional server and PC markets.

The deal, which was first announced on 4 June, will see Wind River as a wholly owned subsidiary of the chip giant developing commercial-grade software platforms optimised for mobile and embedded customers.

“The acquisition will deliver to Intel robust software capabilities in embedded systems and mobile devices, both important growth areas for the company," said Renee James, Intel vice president and general manager of the company's Software and Services Group.

"This multi-billion-dollar market segment is increasingly becoming connected and more intelligent, requiring supporting applications and services as well as full internet functionality."

The acquisition will also give Wind River access to Intel’s technology investments, brand, employees and global sales force, helping boost Wind River’s Intel architecture focused sales, said the firm.

Intel said the kinds of areas Wind River software will play in include smart phones, mobile internet devices, other consumer electronics (CE) devices, in-car "info-tainment" systems and other automotive areas, networking equipment, aerospace and defense, energy and “thousands of other devices”.

There was more good news for Intel this week as new figures from analyst Jon Peddie Research predicted that 2010 will see a resurgence in demand for graphics chip shipments.

The firm said the annual percentage growth for the market was 11.1 percent in 2007, 6.1 percent in 2008, -12 percent in 2009, but will jump back up to 21.5 percent in 2010.