????Will.i.am also told Intel that he'd like to stop using a microphone on stage. Instead he wants a "macrophone", a smartphone that would act as a networked amplification and recording device, allowing him to record each concert, isolate his favorite moments and blast them out for consumption, remixing and further distribution by his global fanbase. Intel thought that sounded pretty cool and has assigned a couple of technologists to work on a proof-of-concept.
????At the end of the day, Intel clearly hopes that will.i.am's futuristic celebrity vibe will aid their efforts to compete in the burgeoning mobile communications market, where the company faces stiff competition from Qualcomm (QCOM), ARM and other mobile chipmakers. To do that, the company needs to create a hardware/software ecosystem that spans all devices, from PCs to tablets to phones. "Intel is still a vertical company in a world where horizontal companies like Apple are starting to win," says Hassan Miah, a former Intel Capital executive who now heads the mobile streaming music startup UrFilez. "If consumers believe that Intel offers the most complete user experience, Intel wins."