Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
Encyclopedia
Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (also known as AppliedMicro or AMCC or APM) is a fabless semiconductor company
designing network and embedded Power Architecture
(including a Power Architecture license), and server processor ARM
(including a ARMv8 license), optical transport and storage
solutions. They bought assets, IP
and engineers concerning the PowerPC 400 microprocessor
s from IBM
in 2004 for $227 million and they now market the processors under their own name. The deal also included access to IBM's SoC
design methodology and advanced CMOS
process technology
.
In 2009 AppliedMicro changed their branding from AMCC to AppliedMicro, but still retain the name "Applied Micro Circuits Corporation" officially.
AppliedMicro has a sponsor level membership of Power.org
and is one of the original members.
AppliedMicro is also executive member (Chairman position) of the Ethernet Alliance
.
4xx series microcontrollers (acquired April 2004).
Since purchasing the IBM PowerPC 400 family (under the 405 and 440 series product names), AppliedMicro has developed the 460 series and a multicore Power architecture CPUs (Titan, formerly MultiGHz, announced early in 2007).
In January 2008, the AppliedMicro PowerPC 405EX was awarded PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2007, by Electronic Product Magazine.
Also in January 2008, AppliedMicro announced an extension of its relationship with IBM Semiconductor; IBM now incorporates the AppliedMicro PowerPC 4xx product line in its Semiconductor Solutions offering. Under this expanded relationship, AppliedMicro and IBM’s Semiconductor Solutions sales forces both market AppliedMicro's PowerPC 4xx products. AppliedMicro has added customers like Accusys and Qlogic to its large customer base for its PowerPC product line.
, 10G Fibre Channel
, WIS (OC-192/STM-64) and OTU2 network applications. The PEMAQUID (S19258) represents AppliedMicro's first device in its MEtrON (Metro Ethernet Optical Networks) product family that is designed for Metro Ethernet and Carrier Grade Ethernet solutions systems. PEMAQUID enables cost-effective Carrier Ethernet solutions for the Metro WDM Transport Network.
Fabless semiconductor company
A fabless semiconductor company specializes in the design and sale of hardware devices and semiconductor chips while outsourcing the fabrication or "fab" of the devices to a specialized manufacturer called a semiconductor foundry...
designing network and embedded Power Architecture
Power Architecture
Power Architecture is a broad term to describe similar RISC instruction sets for microprocessors developed and manufactured by such companies as IBM, Freescale, AMCC, Tundra and P.A. Semi...
(including a Power Architecture license), and server processor ARM
ARM
An arm is an upper limb of the body.Arm may also refer to:-Geography:* Arm , a narrow stretch of a larger body of water** Canal arm, a subsidiary branch of a canal or inland waterway** Distributary or arm, a subsidiary branch of a river...
(including a ARMv8 license), optical transport and storage
Computer storage
Computer data storage, often called storage or memory, refers to computer components and recording media that retain digital data. Data storage is one of the core functions and fundamental components of computers....
solutions. They bought assets, IP
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
and engineers concerning the PowerPC 400 microprocessor
Microprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
s from IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
in 2004 for $227 million and they now market the processors under their own name. The deal also included access to IBM's SoC
System-on-a-chip
A system on a chip or system on chip is an integrated circuit that integrates all components of a computer or other electronic system into a single chip. It may contain digital, analog, mixed-signal, and often radio-frequency functions—all on a single chip substrate...
design methodology and advanced CMOS
CMOS
Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor is a technology for constructing integrated circuits. CMOS technology is used in microprocessors, microcontrollers, static RAM, and other digital logic circuits...
process technology
Semiconductor fabrication
Semiconductor device fabrication is the process used to create the integrated circuits that are present in everyday electrical and electronic devices. It is a multiple-step sequence of photolithographic and chemical processing steps during which electronic circuits are gradually created on a wafer...
.
In 2009 AppliedMicro changed their branding from AMCC to AppliedMicro, but still retain the name "Applied Micro Circuits Corporation" officially.
AppliedMicro has a sponsor level membership of Power.org
Power.org
Power.org is an organization whose purpose is to develop, enable and promote Power Architecture technology. The objective is to establish open standards, guidelines, best practices and certifications regarding Power Architecture, as well as drive adoption of the platform.Power.org was founded in...
and is one of the original members.
AppliedMicro is also executive member (Chairman position) of the Ethernet Alliance
Ethernet Alliance
The Ethernet Alliance was incorporated in the state of California in August 2005 and officially launched in January 2006 as a global non-profit industry consortium to promote and support Ethernet...
.
Processor business group
This Processor business designs and markets embedded microcontrollers as well as server processor, packet and storage processors. It combines the network processors of former MMC Networks (acquired October 2000) with IBM PowerPCPowerPC
PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...
4xx series microcontrollers (acquired April 2004).
Since purchasing the IBM PowerPC 400 family (under the 405 and 440 series product names), AppliedMicro has developed the 460 series and a multicore Power architecture CPUs (Titan, formerly MultiGHz, announced early in 2007).
In January 2008, the AppliedMicro PowerPC 405EX was awarded PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2007, by Electronic Product Magazine.
Also in January 2008, AppliedMicro announced an extension of its relationship with IBM Semiconductor; IBM now incorporates the AppliedMicro PowerPC 4xx product line in its Semiconductor Solutions offering. Under this expanded relationship, AppliedMicro and IBM’s Semiconductor Solutions sales forces both market AppliedMicro's PowerPC 4xx products. AppliedMicro has added customers like Accusys and Qlogic to its large customer base for its PowerPC product line.
Transport
The Transport Business Unit with AppliedMicro designs, manufacturers and markets physical layer devices, framers/mappers and switch fabric devices. AppliedMicro has also a strong 10Gbit/s Physical layer devices portfolio and currently lead 10GBPS PHY market. AppliedMicro announced (01/29/2008) PEMAQUID / S19258, a XAUI-to-XFI 10G LAN/WAN/OTN Framer/Mapper/PHY device for 10GbE10 Gigabit Ethernet
The 10 gigabit Ethernet computer networking standard was first published in 2002. It defines a version of Ethernet with a nominal data rate of 10 Gbit/s , ten times faster than gigabit Ethernet.10 gigabit Ethernet defines only full duplex point to point links which are generally connected by...
, 10G Fibre Channel
Fibre Channel
Fibre Channel, or FC, is a gigabit-speed network technology primarily used for storage networking. Fibre Channel is standardized in the T11 Technical Committee of the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards , an American National Standards Institute –accredited standards...
, WIS (OC-192/STM-64) and OTU2 network applications. The PEMAQUID (S19258) represents AppliedMicro's first device in its MEtrON (Metro Ethernet Optical Networks) product family that is designed for Metro Ethernet and Carrier Grade Ethernet solutions systems. PEMAQUID enables cost-effective Carrier Ethernet solutions for the Metro WDM Transport Network.
Acquisitions
Throughout the years, AppliedMicro has acquired smaller companies to enter new markets.| Date | Acquired Company | Expertise | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1998 | Ten Mountain Design | transceiver design | |
| March 1999 | Cimaron Communications | SONET chips | $115M in stock |
| April 2000 | Yuni Networks | teribit switch fabrics | $241M in stock |
| April 2000 | Chameleon Technologies | fibre channel and SONET products | |
| April 2000 | PBaud Logic Inc. | SONET and forward-error-correction | |
| September 2000 | Silutia | CMOS mixed-signal design | 566,000 shares of stock |
| October 2000 | MMC Networks | network processors | $4500M in stock |
| March 2001 | Raleigh Technology Corp. | ||
| September 2003 | PowerPRS product line from IBM | switch fabrics | $47M |
| December 2003 | JNI | fibre channel products | $196M in cash |
| April 2004 | PowerPC 400 series product line from IBM | embedded microprocessors | $227M in cash |
| April 2004 | 3ware | RAID controllers | $150M in cash |
| August 2006 | Quake Technologies | 10Gb Ethernet transceivers | $69M in cash |
Competitors
- BroadcomBroadcomBroadcom Corporation is a fabless semiconductor company in the wireless and broadband communication business. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California, USA. Broadcom was founded by a professor-student pair Henry Samueli and Henry T. Nicholas III from the University of California, Los...
- Intel
- TITexas InstrumentsTexas Instruments Inc. , widely known as TI, is an American company based in Dallas, Texas, United States, which develops and commercializes semiconductor and computer technology...
- Freescale
- QualcommQualcommQualcomm is an American global telecommunication corporation that designs, manufactures and markets digital wireless telecommunications products and services based on its code division multiple access technology and other technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, USA...
- MarvellMarvell Technology GroupMarvell is an American producer of storage, communications and consumer semiconductor products.Founded in 1995, Marvell Technology Group Ltd. has operations worldwide and approximately 5,700 employees. Marvell’s U.S. operating subsidiary is based in Santa Clara, California and Marvell has...
- LSI CorporationLSI CorporationLSI Corporation is an electronics company based in Milpitas, California that designs semiconductors and software that accelerate storage and networking in datacenters and mobile networks.-History:...
- InfineraInfineraInfinera Corporation is a manufacturer of long-haul WDM optical transmission equipment for the service provider market.Infinera claims to have changed the world of optical telecommunications with its “Digital...
- PMC-SierraPMC-SierraPMC-Sierra is a fabless semiconductor company which develops and sells devices into the communications, storage, printing, and embedded computing marketplaces.-Corporate history:...