IBM Links With Singapore Foundry
Additionally, the two companies may explore an extension to the agreement to include 45nm technology. IBM and Chartered will also work with third-party providers of design tools and open-standard formats.
The agreement also includes a reciprocal manufacturing arrangement between Chartered and IBM. Chartered will be able to offer its customers some capacity at IBMs new 300mm chip manufacturing facility in East Fishkill, New York. IBM expects to use some capacity at Chartereds 300mm Fab 7 in Singapore to help meet additional future capacity requirements. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Chia Song Hwee, president and CEO of Chartered, says: "This agreement affords Chartered the flexibility to defer the pilot production of our 300mm Fab 7 until late in Q3 2004, while still meeting our customers needs and gaining 300mm manufacturing experience."
The baseline 90nm technology is targeted for 300mm wafer production in East Fishkill in Q3 2003. To assist product planning on next-generation technology, the companies intend to make details of their 65nm development efforts known to customers in Q4 2003. The development activities will be conducted in the East Fishkill facility. Each company will have the ability to implement the jointly developed processes in its own manufacturing facilities.
