Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Features

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust division has subpoenaed Sony's electronics unit for information on its sales of SRAM memory chips. The company expressed its full cooperation with the probe.

The move appears to be part of a growing Justice Department probe into SRAM sales. Earlier this month, Cypress Semiconductor said its SRAM operations were also under investigation.

LONDON -- Schneider Electric will acquire American Power Conversion for $6.1 billion in cash, the companies said Monday. The deal has been approved by APC's board and is expected to close in the first quarter 2007, pending APC shareholder approval.

The deal will make Schneider the world's largest provider of surge protector equipment.

"APC has always been a strategic target for Schneider. It is a reference brand in the fast-growing segment of critical power and has superb technology," Schneider chief executive Jean-Pascal Tricoire said on a conference call with analysts Monday.

APC had about $2 billion sales in 2005, and employs 7,600 workers.

EL SEGUNDO, CA - Voice over Internet Protocol has become a key growth driver for telecom equipment suppliers, according to iSuppli Corp. Worldwide VoIP equipment revenue will rise to $11.9 billion in 2010, a compound annual growth rate of 24.7% from $3.95 billion in 2005.

At the end of 2005, private branch exchanges accounted for 46% of VoIP equipment revenue, while infrastructure and residential gear each took a 27% share, says iSuppli. According to Steve Rago, principal analyst for networking and optical service, PBX/enterprise equipment sales will rise to $5.6 billion in 2010, a CAGR of 25.8%.

VoIP equipment revenue growth for enterprise/PBX is said to be driven by these factors:

· The need for service providers and enterprises to control capital expenditures and operating expenses.
· The introduction of new PBX features for enterprise equipment.
· The drive to networks completely based on IP.

The number of residential VoIP subscribers worldwide is expected to increase to 151.2 million by 2010, a CAGR of 57.1% from 15.8 million in 2005, iSuppli adds.

Equipment makers and telecom service providers are targeting the residential VoIP market; residential VoIP product revenues are projected to grow at a CAGR of 31.1%, rising to more than $4.1 billion in 2010, up from $1.1 billion in 2005.

MANCHESTER, NH – Leo Lambert, vice president, technical director, EPTAC, will present a one-hour Webcast on “Rework and Repair of Lead-Free Solder Joints.” The free online seminar will take place Nov. 15, 4 PM ET as part of the RoHS/WEEE series.

Will focus on requirements for thermal profiling; the proper method to measure tip temperatures; determining the different mass of the solder joint from initial process to rework; the impacts of IPC–1066 and JESD-97, and differentiating good from bad solder joints.

http://www.eptac.com/rohs-weee/rohsweeeland.html

WASHINGTON -- Sanmina-SCI Corp. is among five companies awarded contracts from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office

Overall, $113 million in contracts were issued for human portable radiation detection systems for use at the nation's ports. No information was available as to the size of Sanmina's program.

Other contracts were awarded to Science Application International, Ametek AMT, Target Instruments, and Smiths Detection.

The nuclear detection office anticipates purchasing and deploying about 1,000 handheld systems and 200 backpack systems through the program. There are more than 14,000 handheld devices already in use.

"The portable technology will be used primarily by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers for secondary screening of cargo to identify and localize radiological material after a primary alarm has been triggered," the nuclear detection office said in a statement.