Intel To Scale Back Centrino Shipments

Notebook makers have stated that Intel is planning on reducing the amount of Napa Refresh and Santa Rosa notebook products in the second quarter of this year in an effort to push their new Centrino 2 (Montevina) as their new key product.

Projections for sales of the Montevina show that when the notebook launches it will account for around 18% of Intel’s sales. However by mid year it will account for up to 50% and continue upward movement to a predicted 90% before the turn of the year.

Until the end of March the Napa Refresh with Merom processors will continue to make up approximately 6% of all products shipped, and Napa and Celeron M processors are expected to only be 3%. By the end of the second quarter the platform will have been entirely phased out.

For the first quarter, 60% of shipments are expected to be Santa Rosa, with the percentage going down to 35% at the close of the second quarter. Core 2 Duo processor products are going to be scaled back completely and Celeron processor products for entry level buyers will then only take up around 10% of total units shipped.

Projections are that at the end of the first quarter, Santa Rosa Refresh products with 45nm will make up 31% of units sold and will increase to 45% by the end of the second quarter but then ease off to 20% by the end of the third quarter and then just 4% by the end of the year.

According to industry sources, this new contentious move regarding which products are shipped may actually aid retailers and OEMs in streamlining inventories and selections.

Also noted by the sources is that from April, the Napa and Santa Rosa products will start to show some pricing reductions.

No comment has been made by Intel as they state they do not make statements on unannounced products.