Any of you buy Ramtron (RMTR) after I was hawking it here last week or the week before?
Today they went up from $18 per share to $30.
Here is the news that caught everyone's eyes:
Monday March 13, 10:02 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
Fujitsu and Ramtron Develop Low-Cost, High-Density
FRAM Memory Architecture
Milestone Triggers Two-Million-Dollar License Payment to Ramtron
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2000--Ramtron International Corporation
(Nasdaq:RMTR - news) and Fujitsu Limited announced today that the companies have successfully developed a
production-worthy ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM©) architecture that they expect will fuel the introduction of a
new line of high-density FRAM memory products.
The next-generation architecture, which uses an advanced one-transistor/one-capacitor (1T/1C) memory cell design, is
expected to enable the development of megabit-class FRAM memories while significantly lowering their production cost. The
companies have built a 1-megabit prototype FRAM memory device to demonstrate the new architecture. FRAM memory is a
breakthrough semiconductor memory technology that combines the advantages of many memory technologies into a single
device. Due to its fast read/write speed and ability to store information without power, FRAM memory is ideal for use in a
broad range of applications, including portable, hand-held electronic devices.
Demonstration of the 1-megabit, 1T/1C FRAM product prototype has triggered a two-million-dollar milestone payment to
Ramtron under its licensing and development agreement with Fujitsu. Ramtron plans to use the new architecture to develop
megabit-class FRAM memory products that are currently being defined.
Kazunari Shirai, electronic devices group president and Fujitsu board member, said, ``As with Flash memory, Fujitsu expects
to establish a strong leadership position in the rapidly emerging FRAM memory market. We anticipate that this market will
grow to more than $10 billion by 2005 and Fujitsu is targeting to be the major market supplier of these advanced
semiconductor devices.'
``Our fabless IP model, which has been focused on our collaborative efforts with Fujitsu, continues to produce results as
evidenced by the attainment of this important development milestone,' said L. David Sikes, Ramtron chairman and CEO.
Hidetoshi Nishi, Fujitsu's FRAM project general manager, said, ``We are pleased to reach this important milestone. It will open
up a whole new category of product opportunities for Fujitsu and Ramtron.'
``Fujitsu has made an outstanding contribution to the success of our high-density development efforts,' said Greg Jones,
Ramtron president and COO. ``We expect further progress as we collaborate to commercialize our existing inventions and
develop new FRAM technology improvements.'
Within its portfolio of over 190 issued patents protecting its proprietary technologies, Ramtron has 10 patents covering the
newly developed one-transistor/one-capacitor FRAM architecture.
Fujitsu/Ramtron Partnership History
Fujitsu and Ramtron began working together in 1996 when they entered into a high-density FRAM technology development
and licensing agreement. In addition to mainstream memory product development activities, the companies are collaborating to
develop specialized ICs such as microcontrollers and application-specific integrated circuits with embedded FRAM memory.
Ramtron/Fujitsu products will be produced at Fujitsu's new high-volume FRAM manufacturing facility in Iwate, Japan.
In addition to Fujitsu, Ramtron has FRAM licensing and manufacturing agreements with top semiconductor producers including
Hitachi, Toshiba and Rohm. The agreements provide for royalty payments and manufacturing capacity that can be utilized by
Ramtron to develop its own product business. The company also has FRAM licensing and/or development agreements with
Samsung, ULVAC and Asahi Chemical.
About Fujitsu Limited
Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) is a leading provider of comprehensive information technology and network solutions for the global
marketplace. Comprising over 500 group companies and affiliates worldwide -- including ICL, Amdahl and DMR Consulting
Group -- the Fujitsu Group had consolidated revenues of 5.24 trillion yen ($43.3 billion) in the fiscal year ended March 31,
1999. With world-class hardware and software technology in computers, telecommunications and microelectronics, and a
corps of 55,000 systems and services experts around the world, Fujitsu is uniquely positioned to harness the power of the
network to help its customers succeed. Altogether, the Fujitsu Group has 188,000 employees and operations in over 100
countries. Homepage: fujitsu.co.jp
About Ramtron
Ramtron's patented FRAM memories are a new generation of semiconductor memory that combine high-performance and
low-power operation with the ability to store data in the absence of power. Due to the product's unique advantages, FRAM
memories are expected to revolutionize a variety of electronic consumer and industrial products. Current applications for
Ramtron's FRAM memory devices include electronic power meters, smart cards, test instrumentation, factory automation, laser
printers, security systems, and other systems that require reliable storage of data without an external power source. The
company also develops and markets ultra-high-performance EDRAM memory products through its subsidiary, Enhanced
Memory Systems, Inc.
For more information about Ramtron and its products, contact: Communications Department, Ramtron International
Corporation, 1850 Ramtron Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, 80921. Telephone is 800/545-FRAM (3726); Fax is
719/481-9294; e-mail address is info@ramtron.com. Homepage is ramtron.com
Except for historical information, the statements preceding are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Investors are cautioned that such statements are only predictions and the actual events or results may differ materially. These
forward-looking statements speak only as of this date. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of
any revisions to the forward-looking statements made today to reflect events or circumstances after today, or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events.
``FRAM' is a registered trademark of Ramtron International Corporation.
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Look into them. A lot of RMBS money may be headed this way... |
