Semiconductor market statistician Mike Cowan now predicts 2009 global semiconductor sales will be US$196.2 billion, up by 1.9% from the previous month's forecast estimate of US$192.5 billion.

Telecom operator China Unicom is investing 20 billion yuan (US$2.93 billion) in Shanghai over the next three years to expand and upgrade its network in the city.

Cree CEO Chuck Swoboda participates in Presidential roundtable on US innovation and clean-energy technology

With few tools in development for the EUV mask infrastructure, Sematech has said it will convene a meeting during SEMICON West to garner financial support from companies and government sources. The goal is to entice commercial suppliers to develop EUV mask blank inspection, mask defect review, and mask pattern inspection tools.

Over the past several years, IDMs have seen the price of silicon fabrication fall, while the cost of packaging, assembly and test has steadily been on the rise.

Cross LCD panel purchase between Samsung and LG, which has been long-held wish in display industry will eventually begin in September. For this, Minister Lee Yun-ho of the MKE and CEO of two companies will sign an MOU.