Sony, Toshiba, IBM renew technology alliance

Sony, Toshiba and IBM today announced that they have renewed their joint technology development alliance with a new five-year agreement. As part of the alliance, the three companies will work together on semiconductor research and development, specifically on process technologies at 32 nanometres (nm) and smaller. No financial details regarding the companies' investments under the new agreement have been disclosed. Over the past five years the companies have collaborated on the 'Cell' microprocessor design, as well as its underlying silicon-on-insulator (SoI) process technologies at 90 and 65 nm. Over the past five years, the alliance has proven successful, with the Cell microprocessor functioning as the heart of the upcoming Sony Playstation 3 gaming console. The joint development alliance has reportedly helped the companies bring semiconductor products to market more quickly. Each company brings different strengths – Toshiba's manufacturing resources, Sony's experience in consumer markets and IBM's material technology – which accelerate the process from testing to commercialisation. Research and development for the alliance will take place at IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York, the Center for Semiconductor Research at Albany Nano Tech and at IBM's 300 millimeter manufacturing facility in East Fishkill.