Intel to cut 1,000 in management

Intel Corp. is cutting 1,000 management jobs as the chip maker tries to become more efficient amid stiff competition and weaker demand for personal computers.

The reduction, which will take several days to be carried out, is the latest action in a broad restructuring announced earlier this year, Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy said Thursday. Analysts expect further job cuts as executives continue to scrutinize operations.

Mulloy declined to say how much money will be saved by the latest cuts or whether they would result in a charge against earnings. The company will provide more details Wednesday, when it reports second-quarter results, he said.

ThinkEquity Analyst Eric Ross, who recently released a report predicting Intel would reduce its work force by more than 10,000 employees, said the Santa Clara company is scrambling to slash costs as smaller rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. encroaches on its highly lucrative core business of supplying the microprocessors that act as the brains of computers.

“Responding to customer complaints, Dell Inc. said Thursday it plans to gradually reduce its use of mail-in rebates and its often confusing array of other promotional offers.

Ro Parra, senior vice president of Dell’s Home and Small Business Group, acknowledged the various programs had become increasingly complex and cumbersome for customers trying to get the best deals on computers and other electronics.

Dell was not cutting or raising prices but rather streamlining the way customers buy everything from desktop PCs to TVs to give them the best price immediately, he said.

“Ford Motor Co. said it will extend powertrain warranties by up to two years on its 2007 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models effective Friday.

On Ford and Mercury vehicles, the powertrain warranty now will be five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first, up from the current three-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, Ford said Thursday.

Lincoln powertrain warranties will be extended to six years or 70,000 miles, up from the previous four-year, 50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper guarantee.

The warranties cover the engines and transmissions and are retroactive to any 2007 models that already have been purchased, Ford said. The automaker also will offer similar guarantees on 2006 models still on the lots.