Semiconductor moves
Two big recent moves in the semiconductor industry are defining more and more precise market segments,
Qualcomm
First, US-based Qualcomm bought two smaller chip makers in the wireless market. It announced it will buy privately held US company Airgo Networks, a company that makes Wi-Fi (wireless Ethernet) chips and software, including for the latest, faster versions of that protocol (802,11n). The purchase is something that may give Qualcomm a boost in competing with Intel. It also announced it would buy key assets of RF Micro Devices, a US company involved in Bluetooth chip development. Its competitors are Broadcom and Texas Instruments. Price for both buys was not disclosed.
Qualcomm already has a big presence in developing semiconductors for cell phones and other similar devices. It has also extended its wireless technology in devices for laptops. It is also the developer of the WiMAX technology, a wide-area wireless networking protocol that may be used for reaching more consumers on the go.
The big dream, according to analysts, is a chip set that would combine wireless technologies so that a cell phone, PDA, or laptop user could be connected to the Internet or other devices across the spectrum.
LSI Logic
US-based LSI Logic announced it would buy US-based Agere Systems for around $4 billion. LSI makes the semiconductors used in devices like digital music players, DVD and DVR players, and, above all, storage devices. Agere makes semiconductors and software for storage devices, as well, along with networking (such as Gigabit Ethernet chips), satellite radio, and mobile phones.
Agere is a 2001 spin-off from Lucent Systems, once Bell Labs.
This is a merger of rivals, as Agere is one of LSI Logic's biggest competitors in the storage field.
