GLG News by Semiconductor Experts in GLG Member Programs (California)

Jim HandyDirectorObjective Analysis

A Change in SanDisk's Approach to IP

November 8, 2007

Analysis of:SanDisk Sues 25 Companies to Enforce Memory System Patents | www.sandisk.com

SanDisk is taking a more active approach in enforcing their IP.  This could signal the beginning of an increased royalty stream for the company.  it is such a broad offensive move that it could trigger retalitory lawsuits.  This is a gamble.

Mark OskowskyPrincipalWireless Tech

NextWave will it survive?

September 26, 2007

Analysis of:Chipset vendors jostle for position in WiMAX handsets | www.wimaxtrends.com

1. There is a lot of noise about WiMax being 4G technology for mobile devices including cellular phones. While this is probably true Wimax standard is not finalized yet and this fact makes the technology developers a risky companies to invest in. 2. NextWave is spending huge amount of money on technology development ranging from ICs, though the prototype development platforms for both industrial and consumer markets. In addition,  NextWave is buying frequency spectrum all around the world. In my opinion this is very risky strategy because WiMax will be rolled-out in 2009-2010 if not later in some countries but the interest payments on company loans to have to be satisfied in the meantime. 3. In addition, the growth of the company is tremendous. They need more and more people to cover all the activities they are involved in and there is question in my mind of controlling the growth.

James "Jim" CantorePresident & Chief AnalystJLC Associates LLC

Quo Vadis iPhone

September 24, 2007

Analysis of:Steve Jobs Offers Rare Apology, Credit for iPhone | online.wsj.com

New product hype must match product reality Early adopters can become harsh critics A customer burned will cause lost sales

Mark OskowskyPrincipalWireless Tech

BOM and Cost of Typical Cell Phone

September 20, 2007

Analysis of:Apple Sets iPhone Price at $399 for this Holiday Season | www.apple.com

BOM and Cost of Typical Cell Phone Bill Of Materials (BOM) for cell phone is constantly falling. This is especially true for gsm/gprs/edge phones built in high volumes. I summarize the BOM cost of typical and mature phone based on Nokia 7820. Nokia 7820 is the mid/high end phone that has been introduced about a year ago. The BOM and price has already considerably fallen down. The phone is comparable to iPhone by Apple. 1. Samsung stacked memory is $2.00 to $3.00 2. TI OMAP – VOX $6 to $12. 3. Infineon Low Noise Amplifier-$0.15 4. RFMD GaAs Power Amplifier-$1 5. National Semi regulator-$0.35 6. The camera module $3 7. GSM transceiver $2 8. Analog ASIC $3 9. Bluetooth -$2. STM 10. Philips FM radio -$1 11. National Semi LED charge pump $0.5 12. SRAM-$1 Total IC BOM $20 to $26. Additional parts $24.

Jim HandyDirectorObjective Analysis

SIA's Announcement Falls Behind the Driving Trend

August 7, 2007

Analysis of:Worldwide Chip Sales Grew by 2.1 Percent in First Half of 2007 | www.sia-online.org

Semi sales are trending up significantly. This year will see significant growth over 2006. Current statistics dwell on difficulties at start of 2007 Bodes well for semi makers.  Less well for users.

Jim HandyDirectorObjective Analysis

Impact of Samsung Power Outage of August 3, 2007

August 6, 2007

Analysis of:Samsung Flash Production back on track | blogs.business2.com

Any disruption to the supply of a device can impact prices and availability.  This will have a short-term negative impact on DRAM and NAND purchasers who are the major PC, MP3, and module makers, and a positive pricing impact on other memory chip makers.

Jim HandyDirectorObjective Analysis

Numonyx is more than just a snappy name for the new ST-Intel Flash Venture

July 23, 2007

Analysis of:NUMONYX™ is New Name for Pending STMicroelectronics and Intel Flash Memory Company | www.st.com

The odd spelling of Numonyx' name may imply the company's direction. Numonyx is in a strong position with the PRAM, a technology poised to displace existing flash technology over the coming decade. Their PRAM technology is licensed from Ovonyx, a subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices (ECD).

Jim HandyDirectorObjective Analysis

Is Palm's Foleo the Precursor to NAND-Based Notebooks?

June 5, 2007

Analysis of:Introducing the Palm Foleo | www.palm.com

NAND-based notebooks are a hot topic of conversation today.  Palm's Foleo offers most of the required features of a notebook PC with NAND instead of an HDD.

Jim HandyDirectorObjective Analysis

What the ST/Intel Flash Deal Means to the Industry & Investors

May 24, 2007

Analysis of:Intel, ST Form Independent Flash Company | www.edn.com

Intel and ST on Tuesday 5/22 finally announced the NOR flash spin-off that had been rumored for months. Intel's NOR business and ST's NAND and NOR will be combined into a new company jointly owned by ST, Intel, and Francisco Partners. This move will impact these companies' competitors and customers in different ways taht are detailed in the commentary of this posting, along with notes on the details of the deal, and mentions of what the companies did and did not disclose about the deal. One big question remains: These two companies plan to finance a very necessary 300mm expansion through profits they hope to start generating by 1Q08. It was not clear how this was to be made to happen, nor what their plan was should they be unable to finance this expansion because of market conditions beyond their control. There are still some pretty significant open issues with this deal, but investors in the parent companies should be pleased that a step has been taken to stop the bleeding.

James "Jim" CantorePresident & Chief AnalystJLC Associates LLC

How Intel and STMicro Have Rocked the Flash Market

May 23, 2007

Analysis of:Intel, ST form independent flash company | www.edn.com

An Intel move had long been rumored in the last few years. In one big move the new JV is now the world's largest NOR Flash memory player. Whether or not this new JV creates a more rational NOR market is probably in the hands the major cell phone handset players. Based on past market shares, the new JV is the largest NOR Flash supplier. The infusion of financial resources from Francisco Partners will stablilize the transition of Intel and STMicro into the new JV. Layoffs are likely due to redundancies in Intel and STMicro. The new JV will put huge competitive pressure upon Spansion.

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