Intel Corp. and the BMW Group on Wednesday announced a comprehensive partnership that includes technology, co-marketing and Intel’s sponsorship of the BMW Sauber F1 Team. Intel technologies will be deployed throughout the BMW Group and its worldwide dealer network. Additionally, Intel will become “Official Corporate Partner” of the BMW Sauber F1 Team.

Under the multi-year agreement and long-term technology partnership, Intel will support BMW in standardizing the IT infrastructure in the worldwide BMW Group data centers and in providing more than 3000 dealers worldwide with information technology solutions. To support the expanding mobility of its staff, the BMW Group will also convert its corporate notebooks to Intel Centrino mobile technology-based systems and significantly increase the use of Intel-based PDAs within the company.

The two companies have also agreed to develop an industry specification that would allow for seamless integration of third-party devices (including phones and portable music players) into BMW vehicles.

But one of the main things about collaboration is Intel’s sponsorship of the BMW Sauber F1 team, which will push the company’s brand among fans of the Formula 1.

“With Intel as Official Corporate Partner of the BMW Sauber F1 Team, the Intel brand will reach hundreds of millions of passionate fans worldwide each year – fans who appreciate the critical role that technology plays in Formula One. Intel will infuse the BMW Sauber F1 Team with its technology – technology that we believe will support the team’s performance,” said Eric Kim, Intel senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

Earlier Intel along with HP sponsored BMW Williams F1 team, but the things seemed to have changed after BMW purchased the Sauber team in June 2005. In fact, in Europe Intel and BMW have already showcased a lot of innovations together. For example, at CeBIT shows the chip giant usually displays a BMW car with integrated high-tech equipment, such as laptops.