|
Toshiba takes over Cell and RSX chip production from Sony |
|
|
|
Oct 18, 2007 at 12:59 PM |
|
 The anticipated move by Sony to offload its Cell microprocessor production has been officially announced with Toshiba acquiring Sony’s 300mm Fab 2, part of Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation’s Nagasaki Technology Center (SKC). Sony will also be transferring production of its ‘RSX’ graphics chip to Toshiba and dissolving a previous joint venture arrangement regarding the product. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the two companies that intends to establish a new joint venture company to handle future production of the semiconductors and to be ratified by March 2008, the end of the financial year for most Japanese companies. Toshiba is expected to have a 60 percent stake in the new JV while Sony will have a 20 percent stake and SCEI (Sony Computer Entertainment Inc) holding 20 percent.
Sony executives had previously stated that they would be seeking collaboration for future technology nodes for the cell chip and reduce operating costs by disposing of some of its semiconductor operations.
Toshiba said that the acquisition of Fab 2 would enable it to expand its logic CMOS capacity utilizing leading-edge technology. It would also gain from improved utilization rates to reduce manufacturing costs for itself and Sony in the future. Toshiba will now work with Sony to migrate Cell production to the 45nm node and support the current 65nm ramp of the devices.
|
News 
