Intel Corp., the world’s largest maker of chips, has not renamed its mobile platform for nearly five years despite of dramatic performance and feature-set changes, but that is going to change once the company releases its next-generation mobile platform. The forthcoming computers are projected to carry Intel Centrino 2 brand-name, but the exact details are blurry.

Intel’s code-named Montevina platform is projected to be launched in the middle of the year. Intel Centrino 2-based laptops will feature code-named Echo Peak Wi-Fi/WiMAX controller combo or code-named Shirley Peak Wi-Fi controller. The former will allow to connect not only to wireless local area networks (WLANs), but also to wide-area networks (WANs), a valuable feature in countries and cities with WiMAX coverage.

Intel is planning to change its brand-name for the upcoming notebook Montevina platform to Intel Centrino 2 “in order to clear up confusion for consumers”, reported DigiTimes web-site citing sources among notebook makers.

In fact, WiMAX support may be the most important difference between “Intel Centrino” and “Intel Centrino 2” notebooks. Other changes, including performance boost of central processing units (CPUs) and the availability of quad-core mobile processors for high-performance laptops may be seen as insignificant for consumers.

Intel did not comment on the news-story.