Wednesday, January 19 2005 17:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Global chipmaker Intel today (Jan 19, 2005) said it estimates that sales of notebook computers in India will exceed to over three lakh units in 2005 with its "centrino" mobile chip being the market driver.

In 2003, about 84,000 laptops were sold in India with the market growing by over nearly 140 per cent to touch sales of two lakh notebook PCs during 2004, according to IT market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC).

IDC estimates notebook PCs sales to grow by 50 per cent in 2005, but "we think the sales would be higher", Intel South Asia Director sales and marketing group Amar Babu told reporters in Bangalore.

He said laptop sales would be driven by Intel's centrino chips that will enable faster processing of graphics, besides helping accessing Internet on wireless.

Babu said the new centrino chip powered notebook PCs are being marketed both for business as well as a home PC.