Intel Wednesday officially launched its Centrino package, which includes the latest addition to the company's mobile processor lineup alongside a companion chipset and a wireless LAN chip.

Centrino is based around the Pentium M processor, formerly known by its codename Banias, which incorporates a chip architecture that is different from that used with Intel's other mobile processors, such as the Pentium 4-M. The result is a chip that offers greater performance and longer battery life than the Pentium 4-M.

Intel introduced four standard versions of the Pentium M processor running at speeds of 1.6 GHz, 1.5 GHz, 1.4 GHz, and 1.3 GHz, priced at $720, $506, $377 and $292, respectively, in 1,000-unit quantities. The company is also offering a low-voltage version that runs at 1.1 GHz for $345 and an ultra-low-voltage chip running at 900 MHz priced at $324.

The Pentium M offers higher performance than the Pentium 4-M, according to Intel, which said the 1.6 GHz Pentium M offers a 13% to 15% improvement in performance over the 2.4 GHz Pentium 4-M. The 1.6 GHz Pentium M also offers 76% longer battery life than the 2.4 GHz Pentium 4-M, according to Intel.

The lower clock speeds, however, may confuse end users who have become accustomed to Intel's emphasis on the connection between higher clock speeds and greater performance.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.