Intel has withdrawn from the InfiniBand chip market, a move that could hurt perceptions of the embryonic high-speed networking technology.
The Santa Clara, Calif.-based chipmaker had planned to make chips in 2003 that would allow servers to communicate with storage devices and other servers through InfiniBand, a high-speed "fabric" for linking systems. But Intel canceled the program, deciding to leave the work to others such as IBM and Mellanox and concentrate its development money elsewhere, said spokeswoman Diane Wilson.
"We still wholeheartedly support InfiniBand," Wilson said. But outside observers say Intel's decision sends a contrary message."It couldn't come at a worse time," said Illuminata analyst Jonathan Eunice. InfiniBand is now at a stage where the first products are just arriving, and Intel's decisions have a heavy influence on other technology companies
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