Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : IDTI - an IC Play on Growth Markets -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hippieslayer who wrote (10119)	2/22/1999 10:41:00 AM
From: Rob S.	Respond to of 11555

It is very difficult to tell the nature of what this miraculous announcement. SOC or SOAC have been talked about seriously since the early 80's. Many of the uPs and integrated logic devices would have been classed as SOCs but now the definition means the integration of broader system architectures. Lots of company have been working on this capability. LSI and other companies specialize in it. Now memory and mixed analog and digital circuits are able to be combined on the same chip. I can't tell if IBM has anything unique to announce or if this is just another announcement intended to drum up interest among customers. But no doubt about it, the scale of process technologies and intellectual property that has been developed allows true SOACs to be built and, as importantly, verified economically. The industry continues on the more for less axiom set out by Moore's Law.

To: Hippieslayer who wrote (10119)	2/23/1999 7:23:00 AM
From: Jim Oravetz	Respond to of 11555

Here is a more detailed look at what IBM has done, and look at the prices near the end. Ouch! IDT is toast in the SOC arena. IBM to Develop 'System on a Chip' For Use in Various New Products By a WALL STREET JOURNAL Staff Reporter ARMONK, N.Y. -- International Business Machines Corp. has developed a technology to pack memory circuits and fast microprocessors onto a single chip, which IBM says could be used inside products such as networking equipment and "smart" cellular telephones. IBM plans to announce Monday that it will begin designing these "system-on-a-chip" microprocessors in April. IBM says its technology will make these devices much faster than similar products available. The new chips won't hit the market for at least a year. Their first application most likely will be inside high-end data-communications equipment such as hubs and routers. IBM, which sells processors to telecommunications companies including Alcatel SA and Northern Telecom Ltd., says its customers are hankering for the next-generation chips. Future applications could include cellular phones and palm-top and other small computers that require fast processors. Many vendors make chips that combine processors and memory, but few make these chips with a dense type of memory called dynamic random-access memory, or DRAM. IBM says its engineers came up with a method for building DRAM in a tiny trench dug into the silicon wafer so that it doesn't interfere with processing power. IBM says the chips will runs at speeds from about 200 megahertz to about 700 megahertz. High-end versions of the chips will probably cost several hundred dollars, but IBM said lower-end designs could go for as low as $30. ++++++ IDT can not compete with the fab capacity that IBM has. IDT will be selling their SOC chips for a few bucks, if at ALL. The Marshall announcement means, IMHO, that they now have the a setup to do high volume parts. Marshall will work to generate business for Clearlogic by advertizing and promoting them to purchasing agents and engineers. Clearlogic has good products that can save companies $$, w/o any real risk. Let's get the word out there. Jim