Since being able to successfully split from AMD, we have not heard a whole lot from GF these days.  While their process tech looks to be the most advanced out of all the other contract Fabs, their list of partners have been small… to say the least.  This is not to say that there is no interest in GF at this time, but when manufacturing timelines stretch into many years into the future, we may not always hear about such partnerships.  When we consider that the majority of products from many fabless semiconductor companies will utilize much older and larger process nodes, it is not surprising that many custom ASICS that are smaller and more specialized use cheaper and older 90 nm and 65 nm nodes.  Well, today GF has found another partner in which to enter into an “understanding”.  Qualcom is a very large communications company, and they seem to plan on using GF’s 45 nm LP and 28 nm LP nodes for production of chips in the near future.  This is another big win for GF, and they certainly need it.  Especially considering that Abu Dhabi has lent Dubai so many billions of dollars to keep afloat… thereby potentially affecting ATIC’s ability to fund GF in the near future.

Anyway, good deal for GF, good deal for Qualcom, and hopefully a good deal for consumers everywhere.

GLOBALFOUNDRIES and Qualcomm Intend to Collaborate on the Development of Leading-Edge Technology and Pursue a High-Volume Manufacturing Engagement

 
– Industry leaders in advanced foundry technology and wireless products and services

intend to team up to drive mobile product innovation –

 
SUNNYVALE, Calif. and SAN DIEGO – January 7, 2010 – GLOBALFOUNDRIES, a leading provider of advanced semiconductor manufacturing technology, and Qualcomm Incorporated, a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies, products and services, today announced that they have entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding to collaborate on leading-edge technologies. Initially, GLOBALFOUNDRIES intends to provide Qualcomm with access to leading-edge 45nm Low Power (LP) and 28nm (LP) technologies with an intended collaboration on future advanced process nodes.    

“As our customers increasingly demand more performance, lower power, functionality and portability in their mobile experiences, the need for a strong manufacturing and technology foundation is more important than ever before,” said Jim Clifford, senior vice president and general manager of operations, Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “With its manufacturing capacity and technology roadmap, GLOBALFOUNDRIES is well positioned to help us enable the next generation of wireless innovation.” 

Qualcomm’s Integrated Fabless Manufacturing (IFM) model builds tight technical interfaces among all parties in the semiconductor development cycle, delivering greater efficiency, lower costs and quicker time to market for new products. A crucial component of the Qualcomm’s IFM strategy is a multi-foundry approach, which helps assure product supply to Qualcomm’s device manufacturing customers and provides the Company flexibility to meet rapidly changing demands. The IFM model is designed to accelerate Qualcomm’s technology execution and to meet the exponential growth expected in the wireless semiconductor market.  

The intended relationship with GLOBALFOUNDRIES will focus on Qualcomm’s wireless businesses and provide technologies for handheld products that operate on the CDMA2000®, WCDMA and 4G/LTE cellular standards, including the emerging smartbook device segment.  Both companies anticipate that GLOBALFOUNDRIES will begin accepting Qualcomm designs at Fab 1 in Dresden in 2010. 
 
 

“As one of the largest and most successful semiconductor design companies in the world, Qualcomm needs access to the industry’s most advanced technologies along with the ability to rapidly bring them to market,” said Douglas Grose, chief executive officer, GLOBALFOUNDRIES. “By bringing the benefits of a leading-edge IDM model to the foundry world, we provide customers with the fastest option to get advanced products to market in volume and at mature yield. We’re pleased to have an opportunity to collaborate with a market leader like Qualcomm as they enable new classes of wireless products and technologies for the future.” 

In addition to advanced technology nodes, the two companies intend to explore other areas to collaborate on such as die-package interaction and 3D packaging technologies. 

ABOUT GLOBALFOUNDRIES

GLOBALFOUNDRIES is the world’s first truly global leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing company. Launched in March 2009 through a partnership between AMD [NYSE: AMD] and the Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC), GLOBALFOUNDRIES provides a unique combination of leading-edge technology, manufacturing excellence and global operations.  GLOBALFOUNDRIES is headquartered in Silicon Valley with facilities in Austin, Dresden and New York.

For more information on GLOBALFOUNDRIES, visit www.globalfoundries.com 

About Qualcomm 
Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies.  Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Qualcomm is included in the S&P 100 Index, the S&P 500 Index and is a 2009 FORTUNE 500® company.  For more information, please visit Qualcomm around the Web:  

www.qualcomm.com

Blog: www.qualcomm.com/blog

Twitter: www.twitter.com/qualcomm

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Qualcomm