The mobile market has done more than just “boom” in recent years. Simply put, it’s exploded.

And, for many companies looking to stay on top of the competition, or – in some cases – on top of the pack, there’s a definite need to be as technologically proactive as possible.

Enter Intel Corporation. Known for manufacturing and inventing the x86 series of microprocessors, the device found in most personal computers, Intel – founded in 1968 – albeit a concrete company, still needs to step up its game.

So, when news sprung of the company making process on its initiative to get its famous microchips into tablet computers and smartphones hit the wires, it came as less of a shock and more of a “it’s about time!”

In a recent conference, CEO Paul Otellini told eager and interested analysts that the consumer tablet products will roll out over the first half of 2011. And while it’s slightly slow to the market compared to the widely popular iPad, Otellini told press at the conference that manufacturers have agreed to use Intel chips in 35 tablet models, including a few already on the market, accidently spitting out the names Dell, Asus, Lenovo and Toshiba.

While Intel’s Atorn chips are used often in netbooks, the smartphone and tablet market – both of which are becoming more and more popular – have mostly “veto-ed” the Intel chips, favoring power-efficient chips based on ARM architecture.

Despite a pretty upbeat attitude among Intel officials, critics have already come forward questioning the possibility of this new venture.

“Intel is moving in the right strategic direction but they still have a long way to go,” said Hendi Susanto, an analyst at Gabelli & Company. “They're late into the game. There is no clear visibility on what the products look like.”

I guess we’ll have to wait a few more months to see whether or not Intel can say a big “ha ha” to the skeptics.