PC ODMs are likely to be required to increase their R&D expenses substantially in 2012 to cope with demand from branded PC vendors, including Hewlett-Packard (HP), Acer, Dell and Asustek Computer who all plan to launch multi-platform products, according to industry sources.

PC and handset vendors are set to launch new devices in multi platforms from now on as Intel will tie up with Google to develop mobile devices powered by Intel's Medfield CPUs and running on Android OS, while Microsoft has announced that its Windows 8 will be compatible with ARM-based products, the sources noted.

PC vendors HP, Dell, Acer and Asustek have cooperated with ODMs to develop Windows 8-based PC products. Some vendors have also begun to develop tablet PCs based on Intel's platforms in addition to models supporting ARM technologies, indicated the sources.

With Windows 8 supporting ARM systems, more mobile devices will be allowed to choose processors from Nvidia, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments instead of being confined to a single Wintel platform, said the sources.

The development of multiple platforms for PC products will force ODMs to focus their R&D efforts on software, chassis, and materials, as opposed to previously focusing only on hardware devices. This will therefore push up R&D expenses for ODMs, said Simon Lin, chairman of Wistron.