Intel's new and improved Core 2 Duo based vPro microprocessor (formerly codenamed Weybridge) is designed to help IT administrators better manage and secure office desktop PCs under their control, as well as achieve better power savings.

One prominent feature, courtesy of virtualization, is the encryption of the link protocol between the IT administrator's console and the desktops across the organization, stated Doug Cooper, country manager for Intel of Canada.

"It was possible if you got on the network [as a user] to actually use the manageability hooks on a desktop to shut it off or update things with complete immunity. And, so one of the things that we have addressed with vPro is to actually add 128 bit encryption to the link protocol between the console and the desktop or notebook."

For the first time, Cooper continued, only selected people including the IT administrator at the management console will have complete control of the network and the desktops connected to it, whether they are being used or not.

Furthermore, the ability to turn off parts of the microprocessor chip under the new dual core Core 2 Duo architecture will help administrators achieve improved electric power savings out of desktops, the Intel spokesperson explained.

"The average power consumption on the processor [on the desktop] is 55 watts of power."

The new version of vPro - a year old technology - will show up on all new Microsoft Windows Vista desktop PCs. Intel has not indicated when the upgrade version will also cover notebooks.

Because users tend to hold onto their desktops for up to five year and a half years it will be sometime before we will witness the full impact of vPro on IT administration in the office, stated Charles King, principal analyst at PundIT.

Nevertheless, the new vPro features reflect the importance of innovation at the chip and chip set level, he explained.

"Intel is increasing the value of its products by building more and more management functions into the hardware platform itself and that in a sense creates a management platform that Intel partners [that is, PC vendors and system builders] can leverage to build new services and features."

King also noted that having security features on the vPro microprocessor gets around the problem of slow sales of standalone security product coming onto the market.

"Security is very high on people's lists of features that they are interested in, but when you look at their buying habits it is also something that they tend to be rather conservative as far as the amount of money they are willing to spend. Having the hardware more inherently secure could allow the vendors that are building products with Intel parts to offer better quality security, but not have to jack the price up."

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