IBM chip designers said that the Cell processor it is developing with partners Sony and Toshiba will be suitable for vertical industry applications as well as gaming systems. Formally introduced in February at the International Solid State Circuits conference in San Francisco, <A HREF="http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1877989,00.asp?kc=ewnws102705dtx1k0000599">the 64-bit Cell processor</A> that will be used first in Sony's PlayStation 3 game console. However, Mercury Computer Systems has announced it will build Cell-based computers for use in the medical and aerospace industries.