Mani,
Here is an interesting article on the saga of Intel - Via -
technologypost.com _________
Tuesday, November 16, 1999
BUSINESS
Chips down in Intel vs TaiwaN SIMON BURNS in Taipei
... Some interesting pieces from the article ...
Intel's relationship with Taiwan has gone through rough patches before. In 1995, for example, legal pressure from Intel forced Taiwanese chip-maker United Microelectronics Corp (UMC) to abandon its own Intel-style processor.
The difference now is that Intel, which habitually uses technical know-how to lead the market by the nose, finds itself in the unfamiliar role of follower. For the first time ever, a competitor, US-based Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), is selling a CPU, the Athlon, that outperforms Intel's fastest Pentiums.
While AMD's Athlon - supported by a VIA chipset, on motherboards manufactured by other Taiwanese companies - has been winning critics' plaudits, Intel's fastest CPUs have been hamstrung by technical problems and subsequent delays with the US company's new 820 chipset.
The delays have helped VIA grab about 25 per cent of the chipset market - Intel holds about 50 per cent.
.....
As Intel battles AMD's Athlon in the market, and VIA and FIC in the courts, Taiwanese companies are running scared. After Intel sued FIC, its fellow motherboard-makers expunged references to the Athlon from their Web sites.
These companies admit they step softly around issues that might offend Intel - they depend on supplies of chipsets and technical data from their giant partner to develop and manufacture products. Staff at one of the biggest, Asustek, were forbidden to discuss the company's Athlon motherboard with the press.
Intel executive vice-president Paul Otellini flew into Taipei earlier this month, vowing to protect his company's patents.
......
And in the David and Goliath battle with Intel, whose revenues last year were $26 billion, as against the $33 billion earned by Taiwan's entire technology industry, the island needs all the help it can get.
technologypost.com _________
Goutama |
