SYSTEMS

TOKYO, JAPAN -- Fujitsu Limited and Toshiba Corporation today announced that they have agreed to explore a comprehensive collaboration focusing on system-on-chip (SoC) solutions. The proposed alliance between two of the leading players in the worldwide semiconductor business would capitalize on their complementary technological strengths to consolidate their global leadership position in the emerging networked economy. Aiming to provide SoC solutions at 100 nanometers and finer, the companies will establish several joint working groups to investigate collaboration in such areas as standardization of design and development platforms and silicon technology, co-development of processor cores and other intellectual property, and joint development of advanced LSIs for communications and other fields. Through these individual collaborations, Fujitsu and Toshiba aim to further strengthen their respective semiconductor businesses and create a competitive business model that combines their complementary strengths and capabilities. Along with advancing digitalization, the emergence of broadband and high-speed networks is accelerating the fusion of IT and consumer electronics products, as well as the expansion of their multimedia and network functionality. These rapid changes in the market environment are creating requirements for expanded functionality and several hundred-fold improvements in performance for backbone server and telecommunications systems, as well as for various mobile terminals and home electronics equipment. Advanced SoC solutions are essential to meeting these requirements at the product and overall system levels. This will also require high-performance global standard processors employing state-of-the-art process technology, as well as high-speed memory and peripheral devices. Bringing together both companies' considerable development and manufacturing resources and competitive intellectual property and technology will enable Fujitsu and Toshiba to optimize resource utilization and cooperate in the development of SoC products. As collaboration progresses, the two companies may seek ways to effectively expand the scope of their partnership, including the possibility of integrating their operations. Fujitsu and Toshiba already enjoy successful collaboration in the semiconductor field, including their joint development of FCRAMs. Now, by capitalizing on Toshiba's expertise in digital consumer electronics and Fujitsu's strengths in computers, telecommunications and networks, and by placing SoC at the heart of their comprehensive collaboration, the two companies are moving to secure global leadership in the coming broadband era. For more information visit www.fujitsu.com/ or www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm.