Chipmakers change rankings

According to the Electronic Times, the IC Insights ranking for 2006 is expected to shows that Chipzilla was still the world's biggest chipmaker followed by Samsung and Texas Instruments. ST Microelectronics and Toshiba are fighting over the fourth and fifth places.

However, it seems Taiwan Semiconductor, AMD and Qimonda are moving up the ladder fast and are upsetting the old order.

AMD's 35 per cent jump in 2006 sales is the main reason for its new status. Chipzilla will hold onto its number one slot, despite a sharp 11 percent decline in 2006 semiconductor sales.

IC Insights predicts that the top 15 companies' semiconductor sales will increase eight per cent this year.

So Electronic Times reckons, here. µ