Sony to sell Cell

SONY IS PLANNING to sell of the foundries in which it pokes its Cell processors, according to reports out of Japan.

In a bid to streamline its business and get rid of some assets to free up some valuable cash, Sony is allegedly looking to punt the fabs off to Toshiba, which will then become the manufacturing parter for the PS3's Cell chips. The chips themselves are notoriously complicated to make, and have been one culprit in the PS3's late availability and high price.

The sale would be expected to net Sony around $869m US, and a post-sale joint venture would ensure the supply of Cell chips continues unabated, although less can be said for the demand, we suspect.

No new details are forthcoming, and Sony didn't respond to the Nikkei Daily report. But sources 'close to the deal' (receptionists, we wonder?) said that if it's going to be done, it will be done in the next couple of months. So, you know, keep an eye out. µ