Nokia and Intel abandon 3G Centrino project

Nokia and Intel have scrapped plans to jointly develop integrated 3G connectivity for the chip giant’s next Centrino range of processors, codenamed Santa Rosa.

Intel said in September that it was planning to integrate Nokia networking cards to deliver HSDPA access to notebook computers. The abandoned project would have integrated cellular wireless chip directly into the Santa Rosa platform which is due during the first half of 2007.

“We have, together with Intel, canceled the HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access) module cooperation in the form we formerly announced,” Nokia spokeswoman Eija-Riitta Huovinen said.

The decision means notebook users will have to rely on wifi for wireless connectivity, or purchase a separate networking card to access 3G networks.

Both companies said they are evaluating future uses of cellular networking technology inside notebook PCs.