Intel is expected to officially unveil the first major update of its Centrino mobile platform code-name "Sonoma" on Wednesday. The latest version of Centrino features a number of improvements, including an increase of the frontside bus speed from 400MHz to 533Mhz, supports the 802.11a wireless standard, in addition to the "b" and "g" standards, new graphics architecture provides twice the performance of the previous Centrino models, allowing Sonoma-equipped notebooks to run high definition video, Intel developed HD audio architecture, addition of DDR2 RAM and PCI express. Intel expects around 80 notebooks to feature the new technology when it becomes available at the end of February.

The new top line Centrino package, including the 915PM or 915GM chipsets, Intel PRO/Wireless and Pentium M processors running at 1.6GHz to 21.3GHz, is priced from $US270 to $US705 in 1000 unit quantities.