Intel has produced chips for the mobile industry for a number of years. Not that many users knew that, though, but that situation is changing quickly. Intel’s Atom chips have been in smartphones and tablets for some time, and the record-breaking year of 2011 deftly demonstrated that Intel has a home in the mobile industry.

Intel’s Atom Z2460, the single-core chip that outperforms many dual core chips, has proven itself as an energy-saver, and power availability is a major point with smartphone and tablet users.

Those devices which house a new Medfield chip made from a single silicon piece stay cooler than with other chips, according to users, and that, too, is a selling point.

Interestingly, Intel’s CEO, Paul Otellini, stated recently that Android tablets without Ice Cream Sandwich can’t legitimately compete with iPad.

“The thing is, tablets are a little bit about hardware and an awful lot about software, and I think that until you get to Ice Cream Sandwich, the offering isn’t as powerful as what’s out there with Apple.”

He added,

“As Ice Cream Sandwich tablets start shipping, I think you’ll start seeing a little bit better receptivity. You know Google just added the Music Store: The videos are better ; everything got a little bit better with ICS. And so, I think the better test is year two here, in terms of, is there anybody who can compete with the iPad.”

However, that doesn’t mean that Intel has its eye on Apple products. He stated that Windows 8 is close at hand, but he’s not betting solely on Windows 8 for a large market presence either.

He’s staked with Android with an eye on Ice Cream Sandwich.

Intel chips may be in Windows 8 tablets as well, however. Intel isn’t putting all its chips in one basket.

Otellini hinted that Windows 8 mobile tablets are just around the corner.

“Windows 8 tablets … are being queued up for production.”