Apple Computer may be hours away from announcing switch to x86 processors from Intel Corp. and phasing out PowerPC microprocessors from IBM from its product lineup. While the transaction is expected to take several years, the significance of the announcement itself for Apple is huge.

At Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco, California, Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs is expected to proclaim Apple’s plans to use x86 processors from Intel Corp. Apple plans to move lower-end computers such as the Mac Mini to Intel chips in mid-2006 and higher-end models such as the Power Mac in mid-2007, according to a report from CNET News.com.

Currently there are not many details available about Apple’s decision to start using Intel’s chips, furthermore, the reasons for the move are also not clear. The main question now concerns future strategy of Apple Computer, as re-made Mac OS X operating system for x86-based Mac computers may also launch on PCs made by other makers. Moreover, Apple’s machines may also run Microsoft operating systems.

Apple Computer has been using IBM’s PowerPC chips for more than a decade now and throughout this decade numerous observers and analysts suggested that the company would abandon the usage of those chips in favour of Intel’s processors as a consequence of slow performance growth of IBM’s central processing units. Still, the company remained loyal to its chip supplier.

Late in May the Wall Street Journal reported about negotiations between Apple and Intel Corp.; this spurred a lot of analysts to talk about impossibility of Apple to switch to Intel’s Pentium and Celeron chips.

Apple, IBM and Intel reportedly declined to comment for the news-story story.