TSMC to build Intel WiMAX chips - report

BIG PURE PLAY foundry TSMC will build WiMAX chips for Intel, the Taiwan Economic News reported.

WiMAX is being touted as a major breakthrough which will connect places which could never connect before.

But if the reports are true, it may cause a fall out with TSMC's other customers, which include plucky little SIS and Via Technologies, as well as graphics firm Nvidia, which use its foundry facilities.

TSMC usually maintains when this sort of thing happens that the Chinese walls in its organisation prevent conflicts of interest, although if you speak to sources at the various vendors they do take a different view.

It's not the first time Intel has used TSMC, according to the newspaper. It uses TSMC to make south bridge chips, the report claims.

The report makes the intriguing little point that Intel has not yet talked to Via about its 1333MHz front side bus technology. Today is a holiday in Taiwan.

L'INQ
Taiwan Economic News