Ultrabooks, tablets to be major goals for Intel in 2012

After posting better-than-expected earnings in 2011, chipmaker Intel® is looking toward the future and has set its sights on the Ultrabook™ and tablet computer markets.

Intel says that it broke several company records in 2011, recording $54 billion in annual revenue and $12.9 billion in net income. The chip titan also posted an operating income of $17.5 billion, while its annual earnings per share (EPS) rose 19 percent.

But with 2011 behind it, the company is considering ways to keep the momentum going. The much-hyped Ultrabook appears to one of the major focuses going into 2012. Trademarked by Intel, the Ultrabook emphasizes portability and functionality with a super-thin, lightweight chassis and a physical keyboard.

Making headway in the tablet market will also be a goal for Intel this year. The company has struggled to make much progress to this end as of yet, but already in 2012, Intel has introduced a chipset designed specifically for mobile technology and plans to release another later this year.

"With a tremendous product and technology pipeline for 2012, we're excited about the global growth opportunities presented by Ultrabook systems, the data center, security and the introduction of Intel-powered smartphones and tablets," says Intel CEO Paul Otellini.