Intel will cut its Mobile Pentium III prices by up to 44.5 per cent next quarter when it releases the 0.13 micron PIII family, codenamed Tualatin.

The 1GHz Mobile PIII's price wasn't changed during Intel's last round of cuts, on 15 April, but it will come down to $401 from $722, a fall of 44.5 per cent, in Q3.

Prices for the 900, 850 and 800MHz parts were not given, but since the former will otherwise be more expensive than the 1GHz chip, it's hard to imagine that not coming down too. The 850 and 800MHz parts are currently at $348 and $268, so it's feasible they will stay where they are.

Whatever, when our sources confirm the cuts, we'll let you know.

Of course, you have to wonder why Intel didn't cut the price on the 1GHz Mobile PIII. The answer appears to be that it's having a problem shipping them. A memo recently leaked from IBM claimed Intel had stopped shipping the chip until the end of May - ie. just before the next price cuts are due. Could it be that Intel 'launched' its 1GHz part to get there ahead of AMD even though it had relatively few chips to offer vendors?

The irony is that AMD has had problems of its own, and doesn't look like it will be shipping its own 1GHz Mobile Athlon before June. ®