The government will go the extra mile if Intel Corp is ready to set up a semi-conductor manufacturing facility in India, according to the Union Minister for Telecommunications and Information Technology, Mr Dayanidhi Maran.

Throughout the world, governments have had a hand in encouraging such facilities, he said. "This is true of China, Taiwan, the US, Germany. And it will be true of India too."

The Minister made a strong pitch to Intel to consider India as a manufacturing destination at the formal India launch of Intel's Centrino Duo mobile technology on January 10.

"This is the first time a technology such as this is designed in India and launched in the world space," said Mr Anand Chandrasekhar, Senior Vice-President and General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Intel Corp.

By 2007, as Intel ramps up its manufacturing facilities for this product, almost 100 per cent of notebooks will carry technology developed in India for Intel, he said. The earlier Centrino is expected to be replaced by the new product by then.

The new technology delivers improved performance (of more than 70 per cent), enables multiple applications and offers longer battery life, he said.

Intel's specially developed technology for rural PCs (that will cost less than Rs 10,000) will be launched this year, said Mr Chandrasekhar. About Intel's recently launched computing platform Viiv, he said, this would require a lot of broadband to enable an India launch.

Intel is speaking to content providers and to those who own broadband pipes. Once this is ready, Intel would be ready to roll out Viiv, he said. Viiv enables digital entertainment and interaction.

( www.thehindubusinessline.com)