Intel, MS, Nortel, HP to unify Net technologies

Intel, Microsoft, Nortel and Hewlett-Packard are set to embark on a major networking technology alliance, due to be officially announced early next week. The alliance will create a joint development effort centred on unifying the companies' chip, browser, networking and PC technologies, according to a report in the US edition of PC Week. The goal is to allow the Internet to handle high-bandwidth applications, delivered by servers to client PCs. So, Intel and Nortel will modify the latter's 1Mbps DSL modem technology to work more closely with the former's Pentium III processor, paving the way for it to be built into PC hardware. Interestingly, when Intel previewed the PIII back in February, officials said DSL would be essential for delivering via the Net the kind of 3D graphics, and streamed audio and video that the chip was designed to accelerate. That sounds suspiciously like an admission that without DSL, your PIII isn't going dramatically improve your Web experience, which is what the Great Satan's PIII advertising is currently claiming. HP will be contributing application server technology to the alliance, claimed the report. Microsoft will be support Nortel's intelligent networking protocols in both Windows and Internet Explorer to improve the OS' remote networking functionality. ® See also 3Com, MS form home networking product alliance