What would you call a semi company that specializes in mixed-signal chips produced on trailing edge manufacturing processes? Those familiar with the industry would say that is.
What would you call a semi company that specializes in mixed-signal chips produced on trailing edge manufacturing processes? Those familiar with the industry would say that is an analog semi company. By that same definition, maybe we should think of GlobalFoundries as just another analog chip company.
A long-time friend pointed this out and we think it is worth exploring because it helps us not only understand GlobalFoundries’ prospects, but also how we think about industry definitions.
At first blush, this equivalence does not make sense. GlobalFoundries is a foundry, manufacturing chips for third parties. Analog companies like Texas Instruments design their own chips and sometimes manufacture them as well.
Editor’s Note:
Guest author Jonathan Goldberg is the founder of D2D Advisory, a multi-functional consulting firm. Jonathan has developed growth strategies and alliances for companies in the mobile, networking, gaming, and software industries.
The whole world has spent the past three years learning the difference between fabless and foundry companies.
