Intel continues to make steady improvements to its vPro technology which adds management and security features to its chips. But vPro has until been mainly targeted at enterprise customers.
As Small Business Computing reports, Intel now hopes to expand vPro’s appeal to small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) as well.
Intel today formally introduced its next-generation of vPro security and PC management technology, shipping the technology as part of a new processor line.
vPro is a combination of technologies, enhancements, management and security features for managing a PC remotely.
With the latest enhancements — which include new wireless, anti-theft and management features — Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) said it’s aiming to broaden the scope of vPro, which it’s now targeting at the small and medium-sized business (SMB) market in addition to the enterprise.
“Why push SMB? We’ve got 70 percent of the Global 500 with vPro already. A lot of people think of vPro as an enterprise solution, but it’s not just for enterprises — it’s for all-size businesses,” said Rick Echevarria, vice president of Intel’s Architecture Group and general manager of the Digital Office Platform Division, speaking during a videoconference with the press.
The Intel Core vPro processor family consists of new Intel Core i5/i7 processors based on the Westmere generation of desktop and mobile chips. The rest of the platform includes the new Intel Q57 Express chipset, and new 82577LM Gigabit Network Connection for notebooks and Intel 82578DM Network Connection for desktop PCs. Systems are also available with the Core i5/i7 but without those chipsets.
