IRVINE, Calif., Jan.19, 2000, (PRIMEZONE) -- IBChannel.com (www.ibchannel.com) - reported today that Transmeta unveiled a computer processor that is supposed to blow the competition for next generation chipsets out of the water.
Semiconductors are the brains of a computer and the backbone of Wirelesss, Internet, and Broadband platforms. The next generation in Semiconductor chipset and manufacturing processes is dawning. Motorola and Other third generation semiconductor technology companies including Sitek (OTCBB:SITK), Applied Materials (Nasdaq:AMAT), Etec (Nasdaq:ETEC), Etek (Nadsaq:ETEK), JDS Uniphase (Nasdaq:JDSU), Pericom (Nasdaq:PSEM), LSI (NYSE:LSI), Rambus (Nasdaq:RMBS), Broadcom (Nasdaq:BRCM), and Intel (Nasdaq:INTC) stocks have been soaring in the new technology wake.
Transmeta made it clear today that it aims to compete against chip giant Intel. Newsbytes' sources suggest that the chip could be as revolutionary to the microprocessor industry as Java has been for the Internet.
Named the "Crusoe", the chipset has been under development for over four years. Transmeta's affiliates include Linux creator Linus Torvalds and investments by Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) co-founder Paul Allen and billionaire financier George Soros, the Wall Street Journal reported. The investment rounds off Paul Allen's semiconductor holdings in his "Wired World" strategy which has led to investments in synergistic technology companies such as Go2Net (Nasdaq:GNET), High Speed Access (Nasdaq:HSAC) , Northpoint Communications (Nasdaq:NPNT), Priceline.com (Nasdaq:PCLN), Value America (Nasdaq:VUSA), CNet (Nasdaq:CNET), Net Perceptions (Nasdaq:NETP), Net Perceptions (Nasdaq:NETP, and Click2Learn Nasdaq: CLKS, Lions Gate (AMEX:LGF).
The TM5400, will target ultralight notebook computers. It boasts speeds of 500 to 700 megahertz. The second processor, the TM3120, will target so-called Internet appliances and handheld gadgets that handle simple tasks over the Web and which use the Linux platform, the executives said at a long-awaited launch party in Saratoga, Calif. The TM3120 will be available immediately at initial speeds of 333 megahertz and 400 megahertz, similar to those of Intel Corp.'s Pentium II PC processors. The 333 megahertz version will cost $65 while the faster one is priced at $89.
The Linux phenomenon has been gaining widespread support across the technology industry with market competitors including Red Hat, Inc. (Nasdaq:RHAT), Corel Corporation (Nasdaq:CORL), Perle Systems, Ltd. (Nasdaq:PERL) and VA Linux Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:LNUX), and M & A West (OTCBB:MAWI).
Monday's Wall Street Journal said that Transmeta is headed by CEO David Ditzel, a former chip designer who has worked for AT&T's Bell Labs (NYSE:T) and Sun Microsystems (Nasdaq:SUNW).
The chip is expected to be a software-driven design that allows the microprocessor to effectively emulate a number of popular chipsets, including possibly those from Intel. Because the chipset will operate with a totally new design structure, however, the emulation looks set to outperform the chipset it is emulating.
In related news, IBC announced it is auctioning the Linuxsemiconductor.com domain name. Interested parties may participate be visiting www.greatdomains.com and Searching " linuxsemiconductor " or for additional information email info@ibchannel.com .
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