Qimonda still hopes to exist

Qimonda announced that talks with potential investors will continue beyond the end of March if necessary to secure a binding offer to avoid insolvency proceedings.

Qimonda's press release here.

Qimonda ramps efforts to sell self

In a press release today Qimonda indicated that talks with potential buyers "intensified."

Refusing to throw in the towel, the corporate and national flag-waving continues:

"Our business plan demonstrates the sustainability of Qimonda. Qimonda's leading position in the DDR3-technology was just recently confirmed by Intel. We have to keep this technology in Germany"; said Kin Wah Loh, President and CEO of Qimonda AG.

As Mr. Frog would say, "best wishes".

Seriously.

Rambus Inc., knock, knock

Is the Public Relations Department on holiday?

That is the question shareholders have been asking with the continuing silence in Los Altos following the en blanc denial of rehearing the US Court of Appeals handed the FTC this week. The FTC and their persecution of Rambus Inc. that commenced in the summer of 2002 with the filing of an Administrative Complaint.

Rest assured, the PR gang lives and works:

Rambus Donates Computers to Palo Alto schools (8/28/08)

And earlier in the week Qimonda Volume Production of Rambus XDR™ DRAM (8/26/08)

The FTC denial? It's on the Rambus Inc. site -found on the litigation update page under the FTC tab. No press release. No public dancing in the streets. Maybe bargain pizza and Costco beer for the remaining troops following the announced downsizing? Judge Whyte, you read about that didn't you?

Perhaps somebody is telling Harold Hughes to gloat quietly and maybe the whole mess will just go away . . . lost in the presidential election and subsequent shaking.

Yup, it is time for change in Washington.

Qimonda, Intel & Rambus

Qimonda announced its new DDR3 SO-DIMMS (Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Modules) - Aeneon - reportedly the first DDR3 notebooks based on Intel's Centrino 2 processor technology.

Where does Rambus Inc. fit into the equation? Last week Qimonda and Rambus announced an amendment to their license agreement. Stating in part:

"This amendment paves the way for further cooperation between our two companies," said Robert Feurle, vice president Business Unit Specialty DRAM of Qimonda AG. "We look forward to collaborating with Rambus to develop state-of-the-art memory products for the high-volume computing and consumer electronics markets."

Rambus Slams Cartel Escape Door

Long has been the fear that Micron, Hynix or Samsung or some other infringing corporation would squirrel a deal and lap up the Qimonda DRAM business and escape a debt to Rambus exceeding a billion dollars . . .

Well, that just isn't going to happen - at least for "certain competitors" - now that Qimonda and Rambus have inked and announced an amendment to their current patent license agrement.

This amendment extends the minimum term of the original patent license agreement, but specifies that in the event Infineon ceases to control or otherwise own a majority of Qimonda shares, certain competitors would not accede to the license upon their acquisition of control of Qimonda or a majority of Qimonda shares. The amendment further provides that any such acquirer would generally not acquire the benefit of a release from Rambus for past damages, including past infringement of Rambus' patent portfolio.

Harold Hughes - yes, Mr. Hughes deserves some credit because he receives the abuse when things aren't going well - and The Gang pulled the elephant out of the hat.

Rambus Inc.

Wondering if Micron will see some changes in the C Suites before long? You know, retiring for personal reasons . . . time with the family . . . escape to another planet . . .

Qimonda

Qimonda AG announced this week that it is supporting NVIDIA Corporation’s nForce 790i SLI platform with its new 1GB Aeneon XTUNE™ DDR3-1600 DRAM modules that have the "ability to provide high-level gaming performance at low voltage."

Rambus Inc. shareholders are wondering how DDR3 fits into the patent license agreement Rambus & Infineon (Qimonda) signed three years ago. With the XTUNE DDR3-1600 Dual Channel Kit (2x 1GB) available "now through the authorized Aeneon sales representatives and distributors for US$ 340.00" a 3.5% royalty would send nearly $12.00 to Rambus on the sale of each kit.

2007 World DRAM $31.5 Billion

iSupply reports that Samsung's 2007 DRAM sales totaled $8.7 billion, off from $9.5 billion in 2006.

Hynix Semiconductor saw its 2007 DRAM revenues grow to $6.7 billions DRAM sales fell from $9.5 billion in 2006 to $8.7 billion in 2007, capturing 21.3% of the world market.

Number three, Qimonda had DRAM revenues of 2007 of $4 billion.

Read more at Purchasing.Com

Rutronik to plug Qimonda products

Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH, reportedly the third largest distributor of electronic components in Europe will attempt to move Qimonda gear . . .

As part of the distribution agreement Rutronik will market and sell the complete product spectrum of Qimonda branded products ranging from the proven SDR interface to the state-of-the-art DDR3 standard components and modules. Furthermore, Rutronik will also place Qimonda products into mobile and graphic markets with Mobile DRAM, Graphic DRAM and Pseudo SRAM.

Press release here.

Qimonda shipping power-saving DDR3 SO-DIMMs

Qimonda AG today announced that it has started to ship samples of 1GB and 2GB DDR3 SO-DIMMs (Double Data Rate 3 Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Modules) to key customers for deployment in next-generation notebook PCs. Qimonda optimized its new DDR3 SO-DIMM offerings for high power-savings in an effort to lead the industry.

Press release here.

Qimonda ships XDR samples

Qimonda AG thinks it is news, is "proud" and has a news release.

Rambus Inc. is "excited" and Sharon Holt is quoted in Qimonda's news release . . . and yet again, Rambus falls on its face with no press release of its own. Rambus is flat out inept in capitalizing on good news.

Qimonda & Macronix partner

Qimonda and Macronix International Co., Ltd., Taiwan, will share development costs and engineering know-how in the development of non-volatile memory technologies over a five year horizon.

Qimonda announcement (1/3/08).

Qimonda pimpin' DDR3

Press release - AENEON, a Qimonda AG brand, announced the availability of its new XTUNE™ DDR3-1333 CL8 memory modules. DDR3 is the upcoming memory technology which will be mainly used in high-end desktop platforms.

Sony & Qimonda venture

Sony Corporation and Qimonda AG announced that they have signed an agreement to found the joint venture Qreatic Design to be locatd in Tokyo, Japan. Initially, 30 specialists from Sony and Qimonda will focus on high-performance, low power, embedded and customer specific DRAMs for consumer and graphic applications. If all goes well, operations will begin before the end of 2007, with intentions to "substantially expand" capacities.

Qimonda expands

Qimonda AG announced (8/21/07) it has expanded its foundry agreement with Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation with Qimonda transferring its 80nm DRAM trench technology to SMIC's 300mm facility in Beijing and SMIC will manufacture DRAMs for computing applications in this technology exclusively for Qimonda. Furthermore, the agreement includes the option to transfer Qimonda's 75nm technology to SMIC in the future.

Read the English language press release linked here.

More DDR3

Qimonda Press release 5/15/07:

Qimonda today announced that, as one of the first DRAM suppliers, it has started the shipment of new DDR3 components and modules to leading motherboard vendors and manufacturers of overclocking memory modules. In addition, Qimonda’s next generation DDR3 DRAM products have been validated on Intel reference platforms.

Read the entire press release linked here.

Qimonda is on fire!

Qimonda AG announced (3/7/07) the planned expansion of its existing facility for the assembly and testing of memory ICs (back-end) in the Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, China, located 80 kilometers west of Shanghai. Construction of the new facility is scheduled to begin in March 2007, with the site ready for the equipment installation by late 2007. A new clean room of 10,000sqm will be added to the existing clean room of 10,000sqm. The expansion will also result in a significant increase of headcount. The facility currently has about 1,700 staff. At full capacity, the headcount is expected to move beyond 3,000 employees.

Read more from the Qimonda press release.

Qimonda AG announced (3/7/07) the building of a new DRAM module manufacturing facility in Johor, Malaysia, close to the border with Singapore. The overall investment for this new DRAM module manufacturing facility in Malaysia including IT integration, infrastructure and equipment will total up to Euro 150 million over the next five years. The start of construction is planned for mid of calendar year 2007, while production is expected to begin in 2008.

Read more from the Qimonda press release.

On January 3, 2007 Rambus Inc. announced that Qimonda and Rambus signed a technology license for XDR™ DRAM.

Phase-change memory

Macworld reports IBM, Qimonda and Macronix International have developed a new variety of memory - phase-change memory which runs 500 times faster than flash memory and uses only one-half the power.

The article notes that "new chip designs must be relatively easy to manufacture, and they need to be cost-effective enough to attract device makers" and mentions that Rambus was unable to convert the market to its new memory several years ago . . .

Read the Macworld article linked here.