The RAMTRON Story
Chapter IV, The Gathering Storm
There was a time when the words "The Next MU" were spoken in connection with RMTR. Obviously, such talk was and is premature. But the events of the last year indicate that it is off the mark in a number of ways. MU is and always was a commodity main stream chip maker. They perfect and make efficient that which others design. Their strength is in their manufacturing expertise.
Considering the volume and speed at which these Ramtron guys are generating new and improved designs in both DRAM and FRAM sectors, they appear to have a very good chance of charting an entirely new course in the semiconductor memory business.
I can't think of another company positioned quite like this one in both business model (Design IP/Chip Sales/Production Consulting/Custom Manufacturing of Thin Film Products); quality of products; and potential markets.
This retrospective only touches on one of their market thrusts, the new eDRAM. But considering where they have been, I am simply amazed, at the view looking back over this past year. While RMBS has been brow beating the DRAMURAI and burning bridges with less than effective products; RMTR has been building bridges and spinning out a buffet that is sure to please the most finiky OEM or Fab.
Well lets just look at their stellar record.
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Thanks to Pat Mudge:
Message 12954276
Enhanced Memory Systems Director to Chair JEDEC SRAM Subcommittee COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2000--Enhanced Memory Systems, a subsidiary of Ramtron International Corporation (Nasdaq: RMTR), today announced that Mike Peters, Enhanced Memory Systems' director of applications engineering, has been elected chairman of the JEDEC SRAM sub-committee (JC42.2). JEDEC is the semiconductor standardization body of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) and the foremost standards development organization for the semiconductor industry since 1958. Mr. Peters succeeds David Chapman of GSI Technology as the sub-committee's chair.
As chairman of this SRAM sub-committee, Mr. Peters is responsible for SRAM standardization activities at JEDEC. He is also responsible for SRAM functions, timing and pin-outs.
This announcement comes on the heels of Enhanced Memory Systems' recently signed technology agreement with Cypress Semiconductors regarding the development of high-density SRAM products for the network communications marketplace and Infineon Technologies' 20% purchase in Enhanced Memory Systems in exchange for advanced memory technology and wafer capacity.
"I am excited that Mike Peters will be taking a leadership role in setting future SRAM standards at JEDEC," said David Bondurant, vice president of marketing and applications at Enhanced Memory Systems. "EMS expects to become a significant player in the specialty SRAM business and Mike's JEDEC work is supportive of our increased role in the SRAM industry."
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Misdirected Courtesy of Blake Paterson:
Message 14197117
www2.marketwatch.com
"Cypress Semiconductor (CY: news, msgs) is climbing 4 7/16, or 12 percent, to 40 11/16. Analyst Christopher Danely at Merrill Lynch said that his channel checks indicate that Cisco Systems (CSCO: news, msgs) is fundamentally changing its network switch architecture to use more Cypress products. Cisco appears to be looking for "bigger, faster, network-optimized synchronous random access memory (SRAM) which Cypress specializes in." He noted that Micron Technology (MU: news, msgs) also makes the same type of SRAMs, but expects Cypress to take the lead in shipments to Cisco. Micron is giving up 1 11/16 to 80 1/16. Danely added Cisco and Cypress were working on a $220 million contract. Cisco's stock is giving up 3 1/16 to 64 3/4, more than reversing Wednesday's 2 3/16 gain."
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Courtesy of Harvey A:
Message 12434137
re: For this reason, we are targeting our partnering efforts toward top SRAM producers that are interested in leveraging our proprietary low-latency DRAM technology to create drop-in SRAM replacements. These products would rival the speeds of conventional SRAMs, but at a fraction of the cost............ We are currently working live opportunities in this area and hope to close an arrangement during the second half of the year
MoBL line aims to boost 'talk time' of cellular phones -- Cypress SRAM consumes negligible power.
cypress.com
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And Finally, Courtesy Of RMTR:
ramtron.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, October 5, 1999 – Enhanced Memory Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ramtron International Corporation (Nasdaq: RMTR), today announced that its 16Mbit Enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM) products have moved to volume production and are available in commercial and industrial temperature versions. The ESDRAM integrates a fast 37.5 nanosecond (ns) cycle time DRAM core with 11 ns row register caches on a single chip to achieve performance similar to burst SRAM. 16Mbit ESDRAM offers four times higher density, eight times lower active power, and much lower cost per bit than equivalent 4Mbit burst SRAM. It also competes directly with recently announced 16Mbit SRAM in communications, DSP and embedded computer applications at significantly lower prices.
"Our ESDRAM products replace expensive SRAM in embedded systems," said David Bondurant, Enhanced Memory Systems vice president of marketing. "Communications, DSP, 3-D graphic, and embedded computer customers can get SRAM speed at lower power and lower cost."
The following ESDRAM products are available now. The SM2404T-7.5 1Mx16 133MHz ESDRAM is priced at $15.00 (1000 Quantity). A 512Kx32 version of the ESDRAM will be available in the near future.
Part Type-Organization-Package- Temp - Speed Grade (MHz)
SM2402 4Mx4 44-Pin TSOP C, I 100, 133, 150
SM2403 2Mx8 44-Pin TSOP C, I 100, 133, 150
SM2404 1Mx16 50-Pin TSOP C, I 100, 133, 150
SM1M64 1Mx64 168-pin DIMM C 100, 133
SM2M64 2Mx64 168-pin DIMM C 100, 133
SM4M64 4Mx64 168-pin DIMM C 100, 133
The 100MHz ESDRAM supports 66 MHz CAS Latency 1 operation in applications such at the Motorola PowerQUICCTM and PowerQUICC IITM communications processors, the Analog Devices low-cost SHARCTM Digital Signal Processor, and the V3 Corporation’s Universal System Controller family. The 133MHz ESDRAM offers PC133 CAS Latency 2 operation and additional JEDEC superset features.
The 150MHz ESDRAM is the first SDRAM to achieve CAS Latency 2 operation at 150MHz and is targeted at 3-D graphics or high-performance DSP systems such as the TI C62x.
Customers interested in the latest ESDRAM product and applications information can find it by visiting the Enhanced Memory Systems web page at edram.com.
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So there it is. The Best product design for the BIGGEST market. But most importantly - a well conceived and executed business plan to actually achieve success!
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