It looks like the acquisition will allow ATML to expand existing markets but also build new ones. For example, notice the references to the digital/communications markets. Both DSP (Digital Signal Processing) and "fiber communications" are explicitly mentioned. This sounds like it could include "fiber channel", SONET, Gig Ether, etc; this is way beyond the current ATML product base from what I can see (PLDs, memory products).
In addition, it must be noted that there is some personnel exchange that takes place between ATML and other "high-speed comm" tech cos., such as Vitesse (VTSS). So obviously, there is a degree of common design knowledge between ATML and such. For example, it should be quite easy to do exactly the same design currently used in Vitesse/GaAs products. Only difference being the ATML/SiGe designs are cheaper to produce.
(from the announcements)
George Perlegos, Atmel's President and Chief Executive Officer stated, "Temic's integrated circuit business is an ideal fit for Atmel's strategic objective of growing our system-level integration solutions for the Company's worldwide customer base. This acquisition will greatly enhance our technical capability and enable the accelerated development of advanced SLI solutions that combine our leadership position in nonvolatile memory technology with other technologies including microcontrollers, logic, analog, DSP, and now RF, as we move towards increasing our sources of revenues from higher margin SLI solutions.
"The addition of silicon-germanium process technology to Atmel's
proprietary CMOS and BiCMOS technologies, will allow Atmel to integrate low-noise, power amplifier and radio-frequency circuits. These devices are ideally suited for GSM and PCS cellular phones, and very high-frequency satellite and fiber communications," added Perlegos.
Your post:
Does ATML do any communications type chips? I'm scratching my head trying to think how Temic integrates into ATML. Although they both have some ASIC business, Temic strikes me as coming from the analog side of the world and Atmel from the memory side |
