Numonyx has taped out a 1Gbit phase change memory, according to company CTO Ed Doller. "We've taped out a 1Gb phase change device on 45nm", said Doller. "Our view is that it's scalable for NOR to the 32nm node".

Former US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has said the current global recession will "surely be the longest and deepest" since the 1930s and more government rescue funds are needed to stabilize the US financial system.

Wal-Mart Stores has reported that fourth-quarter sales rose, while profit fell - both missing analyst estimates.

According to new market share figures from Gartner, both Samsung Electronics and Micron Technology have gained the most share in the DRAM market in the fourth quarter of 2008, as rivals struggle to preserve cash by cutting production. Samsung held a 29.5% market share in 3Q08 but saw this increase to 31.1% in the 4Q08. Micron saw its share increase from 8.8% in 3Q08 to 11.0% in 4Q08, thanks to strong bit growth. Micron also moved into fourth place in Gartner's DRAM company rankings.

A combination of 200mm fab closures and slowing capacity expansions at existing 300mm fabs is expected to result in a NAND flash capital expenditure decline of 58.9% in 2009, according to DRAMeXchange. In 2008, NAND flash capex declined 27.7%.

The GSMA and 17 leading mobile operators and manufacturers have announced that they are committed to implementing a cross-industry standard for a universal charger for new mobile phones. The aim of the initiative, led by the GSMA, is to ensure that the mobile industry adopts a common format for mobile phone charger connections and energy-efficient chargers resulting in an estimated 50% reduction in standby energy consumption, and the potential elimination of up to 51,000 tonnes of duplicate chargers.

Singapore's chip-packaging and testing firm STATS ChipPAC has said that it will not proceed with an exercise to reduce its capital because it was unable to obtain debt financing amid the financial turmoil.

International banks such as Citigroup and Royal Bank of Scotland will see new competition in China as Taiwanese banks enter the market, leveraging their cultural ties and links to local firms. The Taiwanese could quickly reap profits in their giant neighbor this year, helping underpin their battered shares over the coming months, and at the expense of bigger Western rivals which have troubles of their own at home.

US semiconductor maker Ramtron International has announced that it has entered into a foundry services agreement with IBM. The companies plan to install Ramtron's F-RAM semiconductor process technology in IBM's Burlington, Vermont, advanced wafer manufacturing facility.

Texas Instruments has sent out a little reminder that it won't be a cakewalk into the smartphone market for newcomers Intel and Nvidia. TI continues to upgrade its arsenal of ARM-design-based processors, which have been shipping for years to cell phone customers.

Samsung Electronics, the world's top maker of memory chips and flat screens, is planning to reduce its capital expenditure by 35% in 2009, the Korea Economic Daily has reported.

Infineon Technologies AG, Europe's second-largest chipmaker, would consider merging with another company although a partner may be hard to find because of the economic crisis, CEO Peter Bauer said.

Tech salaries are growing, even as the economic pressures force industry-wide layoffs, according to Dice.com, a leading career site for technology and engineering professionals. According to a survey of more than 19,000 technology workers between August and November 2008, Dice tracked a 4.6% increase in average pay from the previous year -- and a rate at more than twice that for electrical engineers.

Global chipmakers, battling slower technology demand, are betting size matters as they pin their hopes for future growth on small and easy to carry mobile devices such as netbooks and smartphones.

Fujitsu and Toshiba has announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the transfer of Fujitsu's hard disk drive (HDD) business to Toshiba. The companies plan to conclude a transfer contract at an early date, and aim to complete the transaction in the first quarter of fiscal 2009.

The International Energy Agency has said there could be an oil supply crunch from 2010 once global demand recovers and the impact of delayed investment crimps future supplies.

The world's second-largest cell phone maker, Samsung Electronics, will start to sell several phones using open-source Linux software platforms this year, a senior executive told Reuters in an interview.

Mobile telephones are seen as "a basic necessity" around the world and should enjoy persistent strong demand throughout an economic downturn, a United Nations (UN) agency said in a report published on Monday.