EL SEGUNDO, CA — Intel Corp. experienced a dramatic decline in semiconductor revenue in the second quarter and posted its lowest quarterly market share in more than four years, according to a new ranking from iSuppli Corp.

Following an increase in its revenue and market share in 2005, the world’s largest chipmaker in the second quarter saw its semiconductor revenue fall 12.8% sequentially and its share of the global chip market shrink to 11.4%, down from 13.2% in the first quarter.

That is the lowest share for Intel since iSuppli began tracking quarterly semiconductor market shares in the first quarter 2002.

“Following such an impressive 2005, this represents a major reversal of fortune for Intel,” said Dale Ford, vice president of market intelligence services at iSuppli. “However, Intel’s recent actions show it understands the need to improve its efficiency and sharpen its focus on its core business of microprocessors and integrated circuits for computing systems.”

Top-10 Semiconductor Suppliers, Q2 2006 (in US$ millions)
                Q2 2006 Revenue    %Change   
1. Intel                7,095                    -12.4%
2. Samsung      4,481                1.5%
3. TI                     3,175                    5.2%
4 . STM                2,495                    5.6%
5. Toshiba        2,328                    0.5%
6 . Renesas       2,081                     6.0%
7 . Hynix             1,694                    17.1%
8 . Philips             1,534                    4.4%
9 . Freescale        1,527                4.2%
10. NEC             1,380                     -0.4%
Others             34,462                     2.9%

MINNEAPOLIS -- The SMTA will host a job center during its annual conference later this month and is soliciting local and national companies for job openings in the electronics manufacturing and supply industry.

The event will take place Sept. 26-28 at SMTAI, held in conjunction with Assembly Technology Expo, in Rosemont, IL.

In conjunction with the fair, SMTA will provide booth space and a listing of jobs available. Potential employees will be matched to the jobs available and will be given copies of job descriptions and company contact information.

To participate send job openings to Sis Sullivan at sis@smta.org no later than Sept. 15. Include the following:
* Company name.
* Job title and description .
* Job function.
* Number of openings .
* Company contact information (name, phone, email address) .
* Preferred method of contact (mail, email, phone call) .

This is a free service provided by the SMTA.

SAN JOSE -- SEMI, the trade group for semiconductor materials and equipment suppliers,  is lobbying for a extension of the R&D tax credit through 2007.

The previous tax credit expired Dec. 31, 2005. The current proposal would extend it through 2007 and apply it retroactively.

Prior to its summer recess, House leaders attached the credit to the so-called “trifecta” legislative package. While the House approved this package, which includes an estate tax reduction and a minimum wage increase, the Senate did not move to a vote and it is unclear how the body will move during the fall session.

SEMI calls the tax credit "an important component of American competitiveness," and encourages its members to push Congress to enact the credit.

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Nokia and Motorola will up their semiconductor spending by the highest percentage among the world’s top-10 OEM chip buyers in 2005 and 2006, iSuppli Corp. predicts.

Nokia, the top seller of mobile phones, will boost chip spending 15.1% in 2006, up from 12.7 %p last year. Motorola, which ranks second, is projected to increase semiconductor purchasing 14.5% this year from 20.7% in 2005.

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