Tuesday February 2 6:55 PM ET
Intel, Analog Devices To Announce Joint Venture
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Semiconductor giant Intel Corp. (Nasdaq:INTC - news), and Analog Devices Inc. (NYSE:ADI - news)
are expected to announce Wednesday a joint development venture which is expected to mark Intel's entry into the booming digital signal
processor arena.
The two companies are expected to announce plans to develop embedded chips for handheld computing devices, according to industry
sources.
A spokesman for Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel declined to provide any details, except to confirm that the two companies will hold a
press and teleconference Wednesday afternoon.
Analog Devices Inc,. based in Norwood, Mass., is a developer of analog chips and digital signal processors, one of the fastest growing
areas of the semiconductor industry. Digital signal processors are used in everything from cellular phones, pagers, digital cameras and
modems to video equipment.
''One of the big holes in Intel's product line is in the DSP area,'' said Drew Peck, an analyst with SG Cowen. ''Not having DSP
technology is a problem and the barriers to entry are enormous...This is also obviously going to be a sign of endorsement of ADI's
technology.''
Last June, Motorola and Lucent announced they were joining forces to develop next-generation digital signal processor technology to
accelerate development of advanced chips for communications, transportation and consumer electronics devices. |
