Transmeta (Semiconductor) (TMTA)

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OT:
AMD to buy Alchemy

In bed with MIPS embedded chips

By Mike Magee, 29/01/2002 18:38:21 BST



NOW WE KNOW why AMD raised $500,000 last week.

The company is to buy Alchemy Semi, a firm that competes with Intel's Xscale technology and makes embedded chips that uses MIPS technology.

EE Times reports that the acquisition will help position AMD against the StrongARM compatible Xscale technology, which has been something of a money spinner for Intel.

The move also demonstrates AMD's willingness to move back into other areas of the semiconductor market, after a retrenchment over the last four or five years.

Alchemy is a startup company formed by two ex-DEC staffers and needed additional financing, given the currently parlous state of the vulture capital community.

Many of AMD's engineers are also ex-DEC semiconductor veterans, the most notable being Dirk Meyer, who was lead designer on the Compaq/Intel Alpha microprocessor.

No financial details were available at press time. µ

http://www.theinquirer.net/29010217.htm