VBI Notebooks

Verified by Intel® Program - Overview

Intel recently introduced a new notebook initiative called "VBI" or Verified By Intel®. These notebooks are not manufactured by Intel but are supported and warranted by them. Intel is working individually with Asus, Compal and Quanta to bring to market Build-To-Order (BTO) notebooks. Being Verified By Intel® means these products have met Intel’s verification testing for interchangeability of key notebook components as part of the Intel® Interchangeability Initiative. In addition, Intel is pleased to note that these platforms qualify for Intel post sales support services for Intel Channel Members. So there are now more advantages to getting into the Build-To-Order (BTO) Notebook business than ever before. A lack of industry-standard common building blocks for notebooks, limited availability of notebook barebones, and service and support challenges have been preventing Intel® Channel Partner Program Members from taking greater advantage of growth opportunities in the Build-To-Order (BTO) notebook segment. Intel is working to accelerate notebook adoption in the channel, as well as make the mobile ecosystem more reseller-friendly, through various activities. One such initiative is the extension of Intel's existing common building block program — Verified by Intel®.

Intel® Interchangeability Initiative (CBB)

The Intel® Interchangeability Initiative is a program designed to drive further notebook adoption and notebook segment growth. This initiative builds on the foundation established by the Common Building Blocks program to ensure ingredient suppliers are producing products according to a set of commonly adopted specifications, and ODMs are designing and verifying notebook platforms for interchangeability with those spec-compliant ingredients. It also enables multiple supplier sources for common components and simplifies inventory stocking requirements. Today, the CBB program consists of 7 standardized parts so it’s important to make sure customers know that the VBI notebooks meet all 7 requirements. The standardized parts include Hard Drive, Optical drive, Keyboard, LCD Screen, battery, AC Adapter, and LCD "A Cover" panel. Having standards among these parts, not only allows you to share components from different models in a manufactures product line but also share them from different manufactures. For example, a CBB keyboard from a Quanta notebook could be used in an ASUS model as a replacement if needed. The same goes for the LCD, the battery, AC Adapter and so on. This makes sourcing of these products much easier and reduces the inventory needed for handling repairs.

Intel® Customer Support

Barebone Notebooks that are part of the Verified by Intel® program are the only notebooks in the industry supported by Intel’s world class post-sales support team. The same procedures Intel Channel Members use today to gain support for Intel’s own products are fully available for those Channel Members who purchase a barebone notebook that has the Verified by Intel® qualification. Intel offers this first line customer support to resellers and facilitates warranty claims between the integrator and Original Design Manufacturer (ODM). Intel simply provides technical support and warranty service to the dealer just as they do on their other product lines.

Customizable Notebook Panel