Intel says that its low-cost Classmate PC, originally intended for schoolchildren in developing countries, will ship to European customers in the future.

The move is likely to put further price pressure on the UK laptop market, where full-specification portable computers featuring large hard disks, full-size screens and Windows operating systems already sell for less than £300.

Lila Ibrahim, general manager of Intel's emerging market platform's group, told Reuters that computer manufacturers would sell systems based on Intel's Classmate platform for $250-350 (£126-176) in Europe and the US.

The systems are equipped with an Intel Celeron-M processor and a 1GB or 2GB Flash drive to host the operating system, and are currently available in Brazil and Mexico for around $300 (£152).

They are about half the size of a traditional laptop, weigh 1.3Kg and have a 7-inch colour screen. The systems are equipped with WiFi for internet connectivity, but do not include a CD or DVD player.

Although Intel designed the low-cost mobile computers, Classmate PCs will be constructed and sold by local manufacturers who will determine the retail price and the operating system on offer.

While some versions of Linux are free, manufacturers would need to incorporate a Windows licence free in the price of the laptop.