Intel is manufacturing parts of its new Centrino family of chips, launched yesterday, at its Leixlip, Co Kildare, microchip fabrication plant. The new mobile processor is designed to make wireless computing easier and less demanding on the battery life of laptops and mobile devices.

"Leixlip is making the chipset immediately, and it is envisaged that we'll also probably produce the new \ when we move to the new fabrication plant early in 2004," said Intel country manager Mr Colin MacHale.

Intel halted construction of its new facility in Leixlip, Fab 24, during the start of the economic downturn but restarted the project recently. The Centrino technology has a low power usage and is expected to allow computer manufacturers to boost dramatically the performance of laptop batteries, in turn allowing thinner and lighter laptop designs.

"It's a ground-up design really aimed at mobility and at trying to get the five, six or seven-hour battery life that people are looking for," said Mr Iain Beckingham, a technical consultant with Intel.

Centrino searches for and locks on to wireless internet networks, such as those within some businesses and increasingly, in public "hotspots" such as train stations, hotels and airports. Intel said it was partnering with mobile operator O2 to provide wireless hotspots around the State.

"We're trying to drive the same seamless connectivity and roaming that you'd find with your mobile," Mr Beckingham said.