STM pulls the plug on Kyro
- Thread starter rake
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PVR_Extremist
Newcomer
The technology rocks, so someone SHOULD be interested in it. It's gotta mean delays for K3. Perhaps K3 will end up being PowerVR series 5 tech with the inevitable delays that will result from this.
I wanna know what made them bail out if they were making money?
Do PowerVR have a clause whereby if STM ducks out they can approach other companies?
I wanna know what made them bail out if they were making money?
Do PowerVR have a clause whereby if STM ducks out they can approach other companies?
I should imagine there would be clauses in the contract with IMG/ST that, in the event of this, they can't sell to a competitor such as that. Again, if the deal stipulates that if they hold a license and it has to be produced for Desktop then I can't see NVIDIA or ATI making PowerVR based products (especially not NVIDIA as they already have tile tech, and they don't seem in a hurry to use it!).
No, IMG tech own all the patents on PowerVR tech; if anyone buys STM all they would be getting would be the chip engineers and a license to use PowerVR series 4 & 5. Nobody would be purchasing PowerVR patents here.
Please note that we are talking about two different things in regard to the future of the PowerVR-tech:
One is the buy what STM has been working on up until now (PowerVR 4 and maybe PowerVR5) e.g. Kyro III. It should be clear that neither ATI nor nVidia is interested in this since they have their own products - e.g. R300 and NV30 (and then some).
The other thing is about a getting a licens to use future PowerVR-tech. So we're not talking about getting any patent or IP - just the right to use it.
So count ATI and nVidia out. They need full control over their research. VIA makes some sense though.
Regards LeStoffer
Edit: DaveB you beat me on this post!
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: LeStoffer on 2002-02-08 12:13 ]</font>
One is the buy what STM has been working on up until now (PowerVR 4 and maybe PowerVR5) e.g. Kyro III. It should be clear that neither ATI nor nVidia is interested in this since they have their own products - e.g. R300 and NV30 (and then some).
The other thing is about a getting a licens to use future PowerVR-tech. So we're not talking about getting any patent or IP - just the right to use it.
So count ATI and nVidia out. They need full control over their research. VIA makes some sense though.
Regards LeStoffer
Edit: DaveB you beat me on this post!
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: LeStoffer on 2002-02-08 12:13 ]</font>
Musivarius
Newcomer
Could a company use this as an opportunity to buy IMG *too* for their IP?
Previously buying IMG would have been complicated by commitments to STM (STM would be a bit big to buy out completely!). Now, IMG's commitments to STM are not a problem, so long as STM's graphics division is purchased at the same time...
Previously buying IMG would have been complicated by commitments to STM (STM would be a bit big to buy out completely!). Now, IMG's commitments to STM are not a problem, so long as STM's graphics division is purchased at the same time...
Ralf Reynolds, Videologics PR specialist, is giving such statements to the german media.
May be ST didn't push things as hard as ImgTec would have liked it, although they would have been able to? ImgTec couldn't influence how many ressources ST dedicates to their pc graphics department. You remember, ST canned the STG5000. STG4800, a simple refresh/tweaked part, is still not here yet.
Though, it've my doubts wheather the way MfA suggests is really the solution. Not having to deal with the hardware implementation, fabbing costs, inventoring etc. keeps costs and capital requirements down and keeps the company more flexible. This could really be an advantage as long as your licencee is reliable and competitive.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: ram on 2002-02-08 13:45 ]</font>
May be ST didn't push things as hard as ImgTec would have liked it, although they would have been able to? ImgTec couldn't influence how many ressources ST dedicates to their pc graphics department. You remember, ST canned the STG5000. STG4800, a simple refresh/tweaked part, is still not here yet.
Though, it've my doubts wheather the way MfA suggests is really the solution. Not having to deal with the hardware implementation, fabbing costs, inventoring etc. keeps costs and capital requirements down and keeps the company more flexible. This could really be an advantage as long as your licencee is reliable and competitive.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: ram on 2002-02-08 13:45 ]</font>
Why cant IMG buy the STM division themselves :smile:
Keeping costs low is just a euphemism for keeping the risk low, and thats what just what STM also was doing in turn ... being conservative, how can you expect someone else to take a big risk on technology you arent even willing to take yourself? Of course if you take the risk you dont need someone else to do it for you, but that just shows the whole sillyness that is the concept of licensing technology in this market.
There were a whole lot of companies trying to license technology for 3D graphics hardware ... and they all failed. IMG had a lucky break, but luck runs out.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: MfA on 2002-02-08 13:57 ]</font>
Keeping costs low is just a euphemism for keeping the risk low, and thats what just what STM also was doing in turn ... being conservative, how can you expect someone else to take a big risk on technology you arent even willing to take yourself? Of course if you take the risk you dont need someone else to do it for you, but that just shows the whole sillyness that is the concept of licensing technology in this market.
There were a whole lot of companies trying to license technology for 3D graphics hardware ... and they all failed. IMG had a lucky break, but luck runs out.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: MfA on 2002-02-08 13:57 ]</font>
I guess what is interesting is what a small amount of revenue the ST's PC division was making (apx 15 Million), I don't know what PowerVr's revenue is (that is the powervr division not videologic), but most likely its much less.
The whole thing is a shame, its really too bad that PowerVr is not making more money, then they could maybe put some capital into chip design.
The whole thing is a shame, its really too bad that PowerVr is not making more money, then they could maybe put some capital into chip design.
Thats what Ralf Reynolds, Sales Manager from Videologic Germany said:
(copied from http://www.pcgames.de/index.cfm?menu=030101&article_ID=31813 )
the most important part is: The development of future Kyro Chips is not affected.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: mat on 2002-02-08 14:05 ]</font>
(copied from http://www.pcgames.de/index.cfm?menu=030101&article_ID=31813 )
the most important part is: The development of future Kyro Chips is not affected.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: mat on 2002-02-08 14:05 ]</font>
The rest of that quote for those of you who are interested. (Coutesy of Babelfish)
"the announced retreat of STMicroelectronics from the PC diagram card market does not have influence on the deliverability of our Vivid! Grafikkartenreihe. Imagination Technologies (www.imgtec.com) and STIM are current in discussions with potenziellen new partners, in order to ensure an optimal production of Kyro Chipsaetzen. The advancement of future Kyro Chipsaetze is concerned by this process in no way. "
"the announced retreat of STMicroelectronics from the PC diagram card market does not have influence on the deliverability of our Vivid! Grafikkartenreihe. Imagination Technologies (www.imgtec.com) and STIM are current in discussions with potenziellen new partners, in order to ensure an optimal production of Kyro Chipsaetzen. The advancement of future Kyro Chipsaetze is concerned by this process in no way. "