Starting with the four metros -- Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai -- Intel's OEM suppliers and dealers will give live demonstration of applications to end-users on Pentium III-based systems, said Intel Asia general manager (marketing) Kanwaljit Singh here on Wednesday."The idea is to showcase the enhanced multi-media capability of P-III-based systems through a hands-on approach," said Singh. On display will be rich audio, video, animations and 3-D applications, he said.

The price of a P-III-based system would range from an entry-level price point of Rs 75,000 and go up to Rs 1.5 lakh, based on configuration, said Singh. Intel has launched 450 and 500 Mhz processors while the 550 Mhz version will be available in the second quarter of 1999.

The Budget has nothad much impact on pricing of the Pentium III systems, said Singh. He, however, called the Budget disappointing for the hardware sector.Intel is stepping up efforts to encourage independent software vendors to develop applications based on the Pentium III system, said Singh.

Six software vendors from India, which include Trisoft Design, India World Communications, DSF Internet Services, Maya Entertainment Ltd and National Centre for Software Technology, recently demonstrated their P-III-based applications in a software developers conference in California, along with 200 other software developers from across the globe.

The number of independent software vendors in India supporting Pentium III-based applications is expected to go up to 20 before the end of the year, said Singh.The new chip will target market segments catered to presently by Pentium II systems, said Intel officials. Officials expect Pentium III to become mainstream by early next year.

Intel expects the internet to be the biggest driver ofits new chip, said Singh. In India too, private ISPs are expected to boost internet access and accordingly drive P-III sales, he said.Intel had a worldwide launch of Pentium-III processors on February 26. P-III-based systems are available through resellers and vendors from February 28 onwards.

HCL Infosystems and Compaq last week announced the launch of high-end Pentium III 450 MHz and 500 Mhz processors-based systems. These systems are targeted at the home- and high-end desktop segments.