[H]ardNews 7th Edition

AMD & Fujitsu Venture:

Big news from AMD? How about a report that says AMD will be splitting in two, separating their memory and CPU business. Here is a clip:

AMD is expected to unveil late on Monday a new joint venture with Japanese memory chip maker Fujitsu that would dramatically changes their current partnership, according to a published report. Analysts suggest the predicted move is a precursor to AMD splitting in two, with management of its core microprocessor business based in Austin, Texas and some of the key memory business executives based at its headquarters in Sunnyvale, California.

To clarify that report, we get the actual scoop from AMD themselves in the form of this PR, released after their press conference that was webcast today. Here is the skinny from AMD:

AMD and Fujitsu Limited today announced they have executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a new Flash memory semiconductor company headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. A Japan headquarters will be located in Tokyo. The new company, to be called FASL LLC, will be based on the integration of AMD and Fujitsu’s Flash memory businesses, including their existing joint manufacturing venture, Fujitsu AMD Semiconductor Limited. The new company is expected to begin operations in the third quarter of this year.