How ST and Renesas blew it on mobile

Junko Yoshida, EETimes
3/20/2013 1:01 PM EDT

SHANGHAI – Let’s face it. All along, we knew how this movie would end. The game is over for Western chip companies--except for a sole survivor and the mobile chip industry leader, Qualcomm.

Earlier this week, upon returning to my hotel from an interview with Spreadtrum CEO Leo Li at his office here, I found in my e-mail inbox the announcement on the breakup of the ST-Ericsson joint venture.

Ericsson is taking over the 4G LTE multi-mode slim modem product line. ST alone will oversee existing products including the legacy modem business, RF, Power Management and NovaThor integrated apps processors, according to the announcement.

A week ago, Renesas Electronics back in Japan announced that it’s “reviewing” the direction of its mobile business. The implication is that it has decided to divest Renesas Mobile or explore alternate business models for its mobile subsidiary.

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