Centrino is a platform-marketing initiative from Intel. It is not a mobile CPU - rather, the term covers a particular combination of mainboard chipset, mobile CPU and wireless network interface in the design of a laptop personal computer. Intel claimed that systems equipped with these technologies should deliver better performance, longer battery life and broad wireless network interoperability.

Marketing

Intel has reportedly invested US$300 million in Centrino advertisingFact: date=September 2008. Because of the ubiquity of the marketing campaign, many consumers mistakenly refer to Pentium M and Intel Core processors as Centrino processorFact: date=September 2008. Many consumers have received the impression that only Centrino provides wireless connectivity in a laptopFact: date=September 2008.

The Centrino marketing program has been widely assumed to be responsible for the success of Intel laptop PCsFact: date=September 2008.

To qualify for a Centrino label, laptop vendors must use all three Intel qualified parts under each platform. Using only the processor and chipset will carry the Pentium M, Pentium Dual-Core, Celeron, Intel Core or Intel Core 2 label instead.

Centrino Brand Names Updated

In order for a smooth platform transition over Centrino 2, and current confusion over Centrino logo, Intel had started to have brand names and logos changed for Napa and Santa Rosa notebook platforms in the second quarter of 2008 onwards.

Carmel platform (2003)

Intel used Carmel as the codenamed for the first-generation Centrino platform, introduced in March 2003.

Industry-watchers initially criticized the Carmel platform for its lack of an IEEE 802.11g-solution, because many independent Wi-Fi chip-makers like Broadcom and Atheros had already started shipping 802.11g products. Intel responded that the IEEE had not finalized the 802.11g standard at the time of Carmel's launch, and that it only wanted to launch products based on a finalized standard. In early 2004, after the finalization of the 802.11g standard, Intel permitted an Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG to substitute for the 2100. At the same time, they permitted the new Dothan Pentium M to substitute for the Banias Pentium M. Initially, Intel permitted only the 855GM chipset, which did not support external graphics. Later , Intel allowed the 855GME and 855PM chips, which did support external graphics, in Centrino laptops.

Despite criticisms, the Carmel platform won quick acceptance among OEMs and consumers. Carmel could attain or exceed the performance of older Pentium 4-M platforms, while allowing for laptops to operate for 1 hour on a 48 W-h battery. Carmel also allowed laptop manufacturers to create thinner and lighter laptops because its components did not dissipate much heat, and thus did not require large cooling systems.