Qualcomm CEO promotes "smartbooks" and says the US is ready to lose its reputation as a laggard in wireless.

Time Warner Cable will begin reselling WiMAX mobile broadband from Clearwire in four US markets, including Dallas and Charlotte, North Carolina, by the end of 2009.

Amkor swung to a profit of US$9 million in second-quarter 2009. "Overall unit shipments were up 43% sequentially with advanced laminate and flip chip packages up nearly 60%," said company COO Ken Joyce. "We are increasing our estimated capital additions for the full year 2009 to approximately $150 million."

Even if the STMicroelectronics assignment would be large enough to keep the utilization up far enough, it would not suffice to guarantee the company's competitiveness. But, as Buddha said: Every journey begins with the first step.

EDA's industry "big three" held a panel session at DAC on the future of EDA and agreed that this is not "your father's recession."

Hitachi has reported a quarterly loss amid continued weakness in consumer demand for electronic products. Meanwhile, camera and office equipment maker Canon saw second-quarter net profits fall 85% on year, as firms cut back on printers and copiers.

NEC Electronics, Japan's fourth-largest chipmaker, said its first-quarter loss widened as demand for semiconductors used in automobiles, flat-panel televisions and handsets slumped amid a global recession.

German semiconductor maker Infineon Technologies has posted a significantly-narrowed third-quarter net loss on improved wireless sales and manufacturing efficiency, and said it expects sales growth to continue into the fourth quarter.

ASM International saw its net loss for second-quarter 2009 widen to 55.7 million euro (US$78.3 million), from a loss of 9.6 million euro a year ago. The Dutch chip equipment maker recognized an inventory impairment charge of 20.6 million euro in the quarter.

Yahoo and Microsoft have announced a long-rumoured internet search deal that will help the two companies take on chief rival Google.