With ARM chips used in most tablets and smartphones today, the company has become an increasingly formidable competitor to Intel, basically blocking the chip giant from getting a solid foot hold in the new market.

"The market for mobile devices, like tablets and smart phones, has exploded over the past few years and Intel needs to be part of the solution on these devices," said Dan Olds, an analyst with The Gabriel Consulting Group. "The 3D transistor is a big leap forward for Intel and could be a game-changer for mobile devices... When this technology is applied to processors in the Atom range, it's going to make them much more competitive with ARM processors."

Intel is the dominant player in the PC chip market, but that segment has been taking a beating lately.

Just last month, industry analysts at IDC reported that global PC shipments dropped 3.2% in the first quarter of 2011, compared with the same period last year.

The analysts called the decline the first contraction in the global PC market since the end of the recent recession.