June 21, 1999 Web posted at: 11:49 a.m. EDT (1549 GMT) by Dan Briody

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(IDG) -- Intel's highly anticipated Mobile Pentium III processor, code-named Coppermine, has been significantly delayed due to a failure to reach anticipated clock speeds.

Originally slated for release at the end of September, Intel has spent the day contacting hardware OEMs to inform them of the delay. The Coppermine chips will also be the first processors that carry the dual-mode power technology, code-named Geyserville, which will enable notebooks to operate in a lower power state when running on battery life.

An Intel representative said the chip giant is not reaching the anticipated frequencies for the .18 micron chips, causing the changes to the launch schedule.

"The challenge that we are having is getting it up to the 600-MHz frequency," said Howard High, an Intel spokesperson. "We will get there, but it will be about two months later than we thought."

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Consequently, Intel's Geyserville technology will not be available on Mobile Pentium III chips this fall.

"[Geyserville] is not going to be in this first round of Pentium III, .18 micron products," said High.

As a consolation, High said Intel would release the 600-MHz desktop version of the Katmai chip (.25 micron) earlier than anticipated, likely in September.

The impact on the overall market is likely to be minimal, however, due to the buying lock-downs most large organizations are implementing prior to the year 2000.

"With the larger enterprises it is not that difficult this year because of Y2K," said Leo Suarez, director of worldwide product marketing for IBM products, in Raleigh, N.C. "Newer technology is not of much interest to them this year."

Intel Corp., in Santa Clara, Calif., is at www.intel.com.

Dan Briody is an InfoWorld editor at large. Editor at large Ephraim Schwartz contributed to this report.