As Computers Evolve, More Opportunity for Intel: CEO

Computers are changing, and Intel will continue to be powering them, CEO Paul Otellini told CNBC.

"The opportunities are huge. It's all about bringing computing to people wherever they are," he said in an interview to be broadcast later Tuesday on Closing Bell.

Intel CEO Paul Otellini
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Intel CEO Paul Otellini

The number one market for personal computers is China, with the U.S. second and Brazil third. But Otellini said emerging markets, especially Indonesia, India and Russia "are coming into the top 10 as the income levels in these countries grow, and the affordability of computing becomes more attainable for people."

Intel has expanded into notebook computers with its Ultrabook, began offering its first smartphone in India Monday and is offering PCs with chips, code-named Ivy Bridge, from its new generation of processors using 3D design.

Otellini said Intel doesn't expect market share loss when Windows launches its touch-enabled Window 8 system for mobile devices using ARM technology.

"We can offer everything the ARM guys can in terms of power and cost and affordability but can also offer something they can’t, which is 100 percent compatibility with everything that’s ever been written for Windows up to this time," he added.

Otellini said another opportunity will come as the tablet computer evolves.

"I don’t think the tablet as we know and love it today is the end state of computing. I think it’s much more likely you’ll see notebooks as they get thinner and smaller and lighter and tablets as they get smarter merge together," said Otellini.

Intel has "a number of customers designing hybrids, or convertible designs, that take the best of both — slide-out keyboards, higher performance capabilities, yet they're always on, always connected and touch-enabled," he added. And Intel will be powering them.