News

Intel compilers promise mobile performance boost

• By John K. Waters
• July 28, 2003

Intel Corp. last week unveiled a set of compilers optimized for next-generation wireless devices running the company's XScale processors. Intel officials said the new compilers are designed specifically to help developers write applications for Intel Personal Internet Client Architecture-based PDAs, cell phones and other wireless devices.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based chipmaker promised earlier this year to provide developers with compilers optimized for its XScale processors. The company currently offers a variety of compiler software for its Pentium 4-, Xeon- and Itanium 2-based devices.

Intel claims that applications built with the compilers will exhibit improved graphical quality, enhanced user-interactivity and better communication with other devices in a network. Intel officials also said that the compilers can be used to boost performance of personal productivity applications, games, and cell-phone operations and utilities. The new compilers support many of the same features already found in Version 7.1 of the Intel C++ Compilers for Microsoft Windows, said company officials.

The new compilers fully support Intel's XScale technology-based processors, including the PXA25x and the PXA26x, according to officials, and include support for Wireless MMX technology; compatibility with Microsoft Windows CE .NET Platform Builder and Embedded Visual C++; interprocedural optimization; floating-point emulation libraries; support for Microsoft-specific intrinsic functions; and, in a version for system manufacturers, debugging extensions that simplify system development.

The compilers are available in two versions: the Intel C++ Compiler for Microsoft eMbedded Visual C++ for application development (suggested list price: $399); and the Intel C++ Compiler for Platform Builder for Microsoft Windows CE .NET for OEM and system integrators (suggested list price: $1,499). The first one is part of a suite of compilers that includes tools for the company's other chip families.

For more information, please go to www.intel.com/software/products.