Global sales of Intel-based mobile Internet devices (MIDs) since the launch of the Menlow platform have been less than 30,000 units, a lot lower than Intel's estimate of 150,000-200,000 units, according to sources at MID makers.
Intel responded saying that it cannot comment directly on market speculation as it is currently in a quiet period pending the announcement of its second-quarter results. The company added in saying that mobile Internet devices (MIDs) are a new category of Internet-centric products which it believes have great potential.
The disappointing sales were mainly due to the economic downturn which made the devices seem unaffordable, as well as the slow-building popularity of 3G applications, the sources claimed.
Intel has been selling its Menlow chips to makers producing netbooks in order to clear its extra inventory, but has started to notify partners that the next-generation Moorestown platform will not cross to other segments and will only focus on the MID market.
Intel plans to launch the Moorestown platform for MIDs at the end of 2009 or the beginning of 2010, while the 32nm SoC Medfield platform will be launched in 2011.
Both Quanta Computer and Compal Electronics have already started testing Moorestown, and engineering samples are expected to be ready in September, with related products to launch in the first quarter of 2010.
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