Sid, >>>"IBM chips are primarily consumed internally. I dont see companies
going to IBM to supply their ASICs. Nor does IBM have the sales,
distribution channel for chips that LSI has."
Don't kid yourself. From IBM's home page:
"IBM's custom chip business grew by more than 70 percent in
1997, based largely on our ability to handle complex designs,"
said Mike Attardo, General Manager of IBM Microelectronics.
"With the drive to integrate more components on a single chip,
however, complex designs are becoming the norm. The
investments we're announcing today will make that expertise and
technology available to more customers in a wider variety of
applications."
For complex designs, IBM's copper technology has introduced
new possibilities for product designers. At present, IBM is
engaged in more than a dozen copper ASIC designs with
customers, including several multimillion-gate products that are
establishing new records in ASIC complexity. With this
announcement, IBM is bringing its expertise and technology to
bear on more mainstream products.
From 1Q98 results: "Semiconductor revenues
grew significantly despite the declines in memory chip prices in the quarter."
I can't find a breakout of their chip sales, however.
Tony |
