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TIME: Almanac 1990
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1990 Time Magazine Compact Almanac, The (1991)(Time).iso
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time
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070389
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07038900.042
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1990-09-22
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BUSINESS, Page 44Big Blue's Chip ClubIBM and six competitors join forces to take on the Japanese
Of all the trade battles between Japan and the U.S., few have
provoked more friction than the fight over the semiconductor
industry. Ten years ago, U.S. companies manufactured 80% of the
world's computer microchips, but since then the Japanese have taken
over roughly that share. Last week a group of seven American
computer companies, including archrivals IBM and Digital Equipment,
announced a move that might help the U.S. recoup some of its lost
ground. The companies will create a joint venture that will
manufacture and sell dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips
using IBM technology.
U.S. companies currently account for only 10% of the world's
production of the most advanced DRAM chip, the one megabit, which
has enough memory to contain the equivalent of 100 pages of
double-spaced text. The new venture, called U.S. Memories, plans
to manufacture the next generation: the four-megabit chip. Last
week IBM disclosed that it is already producing the more powerful
semiconductor for use in its own computers and other products. That
may give IBM a lead of several months over its Japanese rivals, who
have yet to gear up mass production of the four-megabit
semiconductor.
The U.S. Memories plant, which may cost as much as $1 billion
to build, will not be ready for at least a year and a half.
"They're going to have to hurry up if they don't want to fall too
far behind," says Sam Navarro, who follows the industry for the
investment firm Ladenburg, Thalmann. Despite the time squeeze, some
experts believe U.S. Memories could capture 30% to 40% of the U.S.
chip market by 1991.
The venture must also win congressional approval before it can
proceed, since antitrust law generally prohibits joint
manufacturing ventures between major competitors. But experts
predict that Congress will make an exception for U.S. Memories.
Besides the potential gain in chips, they contend, the lessons
learned from the DRAM joint venture could show American industry
how to become more competitive in other high-tech areas, including
high-definition television.