Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

DUBLIN -- The worldwide telecommunications market will double by 2010, according to a just released report.

Research and Markets says telecom sales will hit $282 billion within five years, driven by Internet networks, particularly in existing markets.

Digital, IP and Ethernet will replace other protocols, Research and Markets said. Meanwhile, 3G base stations will work side-by-side with WiMAX 802.16 base stations in urban areas.

Today's largest existing markets are forecast to grow to $446.9 billion by 2010, up from $197 billion this year.

SAN JOSE -- The 90-day moving average orders of North American-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment was $1.07 billion in June, good for a book-to-bill ratio of 0.93.

Bookings were up 5.5% over revised May levels and 33% below June 2004, said SEMI, which tracks the data.

SAN JOSE -- Hewlett-Packard will cut 14,500 jobs over the next six quarters as the computer and peripherals maker reduces its full-time staff by 10%.

The company will take a pretax restructuring charge of about $1.1 billion over the next six quarters, beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005.

ALBANY, NY - IBM, Advanced Micro Devices, Infineon Technologies and Micron Technology will team with the state of New York on a five-year, $600 million project to create next-generation semiconductors.

STAMFORD, CT – COMET, a supplier of x-ray, RF and dosimetry solutions, has opened a Technical Resource Center in San Jose, CA. In the heart of Silicon Valley, the new office provides more than twice the space of the previous West Coast facility.

The 5,200 sq. ft facility was chosen due to the efficient layout of the building and its proximity to existing customers in the area. The North America service team will be able to inventory the entire line of COMET products and perform on-site service and repairs. Features three inspection service laboratories for product demonstrations and quality assurance inspection.

The company also recently expanded its North American headquarters in Stamford.

Hauppauge, NY—RVSI Inspection LLC, a provider of semiconductor wafer and package metrology and defect inspection solutions, and BKM Technology Partners, a manager of advanced technologies, have signed a sales and service agreement to provide customers in North America support for semiconductor wafer and package inspection requirements.

BKM Technology Partners will provide sales, service and application support for RVSI Inspection product lines throughout North America. In addition, some existing sales and service employees will transfer from RVSI Inspection to BKM.