TSMC Versus The FabClub!

By SemiWiki

January 24, 2011

The Common Platform Technology Forum last week was not well attended, less than half than the GlobalFoundries Conference. It was deja vu of previous CP forums but there were a couple of surprises to go with the disappointment. The lunch line was long, but fortunately I was escorted to the press lunch featuring VIP’s from Samsung, IBM and GlobalFoundries. Yes, I still blog for food.

While I originally thought bringing back Common Platform from the dead was a good idea, attending the Forum definitely changed my mind. According to the presentations, Common Platform WAS wildly successful, but clearly it was not. Chartered Semiconductor WAS Common Platform and Chartered WAS purchased by GlobalFoundries for pennies on the total investment dollar, right?

I would have rather them said, "Look, Common Platform has changed and this is why it WILL be successful from this day forward”. A little humility goes a long way, it also shows respect for the intelligence of the audience. My opinion now is that Common Platform should be laid to rest, dead is dead, no coming back. Only Zombies come back from the dead and no one wants a Common Zombie Platform.

 The surprises were twofold:

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