Intel has formally launched its Oak Trail processor, designed for tablet computers.
The new microchip is smaller and uses less power than other models in its Atom range for mobile devices.
Despite being the world's largest manufacturer of microprocessors, Intel has been largely pushed out of the growing tablet market.
Until now, most devices have used chips designed by Apple and Cambridge-based Arm Holdings.
Announcing Oak Trail's retail name - the Z670 - Intel conceded that it was currently lagging behind the competition.
"You won't find a lot of Intel based tablets on the shelves at the moment," said Kevin O'Donovan, marketing manager for notebooks and tablets.
However, he insisted that the company now had a competitive product.
"2011 is about becoming relevant," he said.
Multiple platformsOne of Oak Trail's biggest selling points is likely to be its ability to run a number of different tablet operating systems.
Windows 7, Android, MeeGo and Google's upcoming OS will all work on the Intel platform.
Currently, chipsets based on Arm's designs, such as Nvidia's popular Tegra processors, are unable to run Windows.
However, Microsoft recently announced that it would support Arm processors for the next release of Windows, expected in early 2012.
At least one tablet manufacturer had postponed the launch of their Windows device until Oak Trail became available.
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