VIA to increase market share with C3 processor

NEW DELHI: The edge is on its C3 processor. VIA has set the benchmark in

creating affordable yet efficient processors enabling consumers to buy

multimedia featured PC's for as low as Rs 15,000. From chip and semiconductor

designing, Taiwan based VIA is extending its capabilities to newer areas by

enabling its chip sets into consumer electronics. It is a developer of core

logic chipsets, microprocessors, multimedia, networking and communication chips.

With a 10 per cent growth over the previous year, vis-a-vis AMD and Intel, VIA

is optimistic about the market for the coming months.

The company is enabling digital PC appliances like Set Top Boxes, notebooks,

and mobile computing devices by its recently launched 933-MHz processor.

Microprocessors between 550MHz to 800 MHz are already available in the market.

In the coming months its focus would be on building chips for the CD, DVDR and

optical drives.

"Through our competitive pricing we are creating a new PC market and

with the power of our C3 processor we are beginning in a new era in consumer

electronics" said Richard Brown, Director (Intl. Mktg), VIA Technologies.

For tapping into the Indian market VIA plans to open its Indian office for

business development functions. By mid 2002, VIA intends to launch two new

chipsets, 1GHz, 1.1 GHz and Tablet PC for which it is closely working with

Microsoft.

VIA is also in negotiations with local motherboard companies having

manufacturing facilities for partnership in order to provide technological and

financial assistance. "With these partnerships there would be some transfer

of technology to India but hope at the same time the duty structure supports the

local manufacturer," added Brown.