US chip maker Intel Corp. will work with leading Vietnamese companies to develop seven laptop hardware parts in a scheme that would help cut half of laptop prices. 

Through the "Certified by Intel" programme, which was announced by Intel Vietnam and the corporation's official sales agents and distributors in Ho Chi Minh City on May 10, all laptop producers, sales agents and retailers will be able to chose from the above hardware parts, including hard disks, optical disks, LCD monitors, batteries, cases, power supplies and keyboards to develop their own products.

Information technology (IT) experts forecast that the decision by the world's largest chip maker would help Vietnamese laptop producers bring down computer prices by at least 30-50 percent and laptop sales in the domestic market would increase rapidly.

Initially, 14 Vietnamese businesses have registered to take part in the programme. It is expected that product lines would be available to users during the next 2-5 months.
The programme is one of Intel's global initiatives aimed at supporting laptop sales agents and producers to effectively enhance the consumption of laptop computers on the domestic market. It is part of an Intel strategy to invest US$1 billion in developing countries over the next five years.