Platforms and networks - Intel's relationships with its partners

• Olivier ARGAUT
  Engineer, Corps des Télécommunications
  Student, École des mines de Paris
  
• Annabelle GAWER
  Professor, INSEAD
  
• Thierry WEIL
  École des mines de Paris
  

Summary

Several industries offer systems made up of a central platform on which numerous peripheral components are grafted. These components make the system both functional and very useful. These additional components are often produced by different companies, which have partnership deals with the platform producers. However, these relationships are unstable since the platform producers, with time, having acquired a sound knowledge of these peripheral products, are often tempted to produce them themselves. It is here that Intel, which makes microprocessors, got started in the production of web terminals and offered a range of services. There are many hypotheses regarding Intel's strange strategy: is the strategy one of diversification of products; is it capturing the expanding market for networked terminals; is it the development of new uses to sell even more microprocessors; or is it reinforcement of the visibility of the brand ?

Summary translated from French by Rachel MARLIN.

• The entire article was written by Élisabeth BOURGUINAT.

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