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Technology Stocks : SILICON STORAGE SSTI Flash Mem -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: hueyone who wrote (1461)	1/3/2001 9:27:04 AM
From: orkrious	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1881

Taipei, Jan. 2, 2001 (CENS)--Four main domestic DRAM (dynamic random access memory) manufacturers, in view of decreasing DRAM prices, will expand into the production of other types of ICs (integrated circuits). The four manufacturers are Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp., Powerchip Semiconductor Corp., Mosel Vitelic Inc., and Winbond Electronic Corp. The first two are listed on the local Taisdaq bourse while the other two on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. Because the prices of DRAM chips have continually dropped to levels far below expected, Vanguard International plans to become a provider of memory IC foundry services by offering a variety of memory ICs. Thus, the company plans to cooperate with SST of the U.S. to make flash memory through a combination of the former's manufacturing technology and the latter's IC design capability. Vanguard International will use 0.18-micron technology transferred from Mitsubishi of Japan for the production of flash memory. Powerchip also introduced manufacturing technology of flash memory from Mitsubishi. In order to expand into production of flash memory, the company has invested in a local IC designer and will cultivate other local IC design companies, potential clients of its flash memory IC foundry services. Mosel Vitelic has expanded into production of TFT-LCD (thin film transistor-liquid crystal display) driver ICs by utilizing over 80% of its 6-inch wafer foundry capacity. Moreover, the company and Sharp of Japan established a joint venture to specifically design such ICs. The joint venture expects to reap an annual revenue of US$300 million and attain a global market share of 8%-10% in three years. Windbond has engaged in production of TFT-LCD driver ICs. The company began to expand its production last month to attain a monthly output of one million driver IC chips for 2001.