After PCs sold to Lenovo some days ago, new rumors on Big Blue.
The best source that I found on such possible deal is very interesting article from electronicsweekly.
The importance of such event is huge considering the history in semiconductor R&D that IBM has –and in my opinion also the strategic role that such branch still has for the USA
Anyway, starting from the strict financial reasons we could see of a loss of lost $130 million last year possible other $130 million this year with a capital cost to stay in such market of $5 billion, the mentioned article shows as possible interested buyers:
The list of the “obvious ones” sees Intel, TSMC, GlobalFoundries and Samsung, all of them with some reason to DON’T buy IBM chips.
Other possibilities are JVs with Apple (do you remember the RISC PowerPC?) or TowerJazz or some European or Chinese company or -why not?- some Indian or Brazilian Company that need a boost in semiconductor market.
I have some perplexity that such IBM R&D will be in the near future in Chinese hands for eco-political reasons bu I fully agree with electronicsweekly that “Whatever the outcome of this, a chip industry without IBM will be a diminished industry”.
I suppose that will see next steps very soon.
HTGadgets 