Via Technologies, a struggling designer of chipsets and developer of central processing units (CPUs), has reportedly lost an executive who was in charge of the company’s chipset business along with a group of core-logic developers. The resignation of an exec spurred further rumours regarding the chipset business of Via.
Chewei Lin, vice president and general manager of Via’s platform business, according to a news-story at DigiTimes web-site, will resign from his post and take around 40 engineers from Via’ chipset research team to join integrated circuit designer ASMedia Technology, a subsidiary of Asustek Computer.
According to Via’s web-site, the company currently employs about 2000 of people, 70% of which, or 1400, are engineers, several hundreds of which (about 600, according to claims made by an S3 Graphics executive two years ago). While 40 chipset designers may not be a significant number for Via, considering that the company still has to sign a cross-license agreement with Intel Corp. to develop and sell chipsets for Intel’s chips in 2008, the future of Via’s chipset business looks gloomy.
Earlier this year it was reported that Via plans to switch its focus from third party chipsets to chipsets for its own C7 processor platform in order to lead the way for its own microprocessors to such markets as multimedia control, commercial embedded (thin clients, industrial PCs and point of sale terminals), home multimedia and mobile embedded (ultra-mobile devices, set-top boxes, LCD TVs and car electronics).
Via is reported to have stated that it had not heard of any group resignation, but it was normal for employees to leave after a reorganization.
Comments currently: 5
Discussion started: 09/07/07 08:45:05 AM
Latest comment: 09/09/07 11:24:09 AM
[1-5]
1.
The writing has been on the wall for Via's Intel chipsets for a long time - they basically signed the death warrant on them with the settlement with Intel back in 2003. On the AMD front, they're going to be coming under more and more pressure from ATI chipsets, so they're not going to be making an easy buck there. Not to mention that they were very much relegated to the low end for both areas, which didn't help the profit margins.
Overall, ditching AMD and Intel and sticking with what they do best (low power, highly integrated, systems) makes a whole lot of sense.
[Posted by: Cynic | Date: 09/07/07 08:45:05 AM]
2.
/agree with Cynic, VIA should focus on kicking AMD/Intel/Transmetta ass in the area it does best in. low power with good performance.
C7-M>Pentium M
But I do hope VIA does survive, gota love'em, one way or another.
[Posted by: Joz | Date: 09/07/07 10:44:56 AM]
3.
When they are going to stop using such "bombastic" verbs like: "exodus", "flee". Its not interesting anymore.
[Posted by: BorgDrone | Date: 09/07/07 02:45:45 PM]
4.
I don't blame them eighther, I mean they haven't exactly been embraced by AMD. Back with the launch of the Athalon 64 Nvidia was chosen as the launch partner even though the Via chipset was faster than the crappy Nforce3. Of course lately Via hasen't been putting out steller performers and even in the lower ends I find their chipsets rather lacking.
VIA makes good x86 chips and chipsets for use with linux and small systems. They need to focus on keeping and extending their lead in that field.
[Posted by: Megamanx00 | Date: 09/07/07 03:41:44 PM]
5.
VIA should integrate itself into Intel to kick some ass.
[Posted by: nuff | Date: 09/09/07 11:24:09 AM]
[1-5]
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