Intel may be facing its first real challenges in its data center processor market (see separate item), but it is expanding into new areas aggressively with new acquisitions and partnerships. It is making a much-anticipated purchase, of Israel-based connected car specialist Mobileye, and it has showed off the latest fruits of its strategic alliance with Spreadtrum of China. The world’s largest chipmaker will pay a hefty $15.3bn for Mobileye, to boost its position in the self-driving vehicle market. Mobileye, which is an existing partner, makes machine vision sensors which help detect obstacles in the road. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich wrote in an email to employees that Mobileye’s cameras would be combined with the Xeon processors, 5G modems and other technology…