Samsung is currently in the process of buying AST, a computer maker with sales of roughly $1.0+ billion. Below is a link that gives you an idea of where Samsung is going. Consider that Samsung is the largest manufacturer of computer monitors, is one of the largest manufacturer of memory chips, is expected to be one of the largest manufacturers of DVDs, BUT is also one of the smallest manufacturers of disk drives. Samsung is also one of the largest customers of HMTT.
Hyundai is also one of the largest manufacturer of memory chips. It also owns a computer maker [ axill.com ], a UNIX shop making the move to the NT server market, and is expected to be one of the largest manufacturers of DVD. Its Maxtor unit is, as you know, the largest customer of HMTT.
These Koreans seem to be totally sold on vertical integration, which is not really surprising considering that, like the Japanese which they are trying to copy, their greatest strenght lies in thier ability to mass produce items extremely cheaply.
Yet another dynamic to watch.
192.215.107.72
"...Samsung sells notebooks in the United States and only manufactures
desktop PCs for the Korean market.
The desktop strategy could help spur Samsung's planned growth of its
storage business, Chung said.
The company said it expects to ship 6.5 million hard-disk drives in
1997, increasing that volume to 20 million by 2000.
Samsung will expand its line of storage products, as well. The company
will introduce a five-platter offering by the end of this year and is
developing a 10-platter storage system.
Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) system products with a
capacity of 10 gigabytes (GB) to 20 GB will roll off Samsung assembly
lines in the second half of 1998.
Chung did not rule out Samsung entering the server market, as well, as
a way to offer a more comprehensive product line...." |
