LONDON — System interconnect specialist Tundra Semiconductor (Ottawa, Canada) said Monday March, 31, 2003) that it has bought IBM's 133 PCI-X Bridge product line $10 million in cash. The devices will now be sold as the Tundra Tsi310 PCI-X Bus Bridge and through a foundry deal will continue to be made by IBM Microelectronics.
Tundra estimates the market for PCI-X bus bridges will grow over the next few years to be worth $50 million a year as it gains increasing support from leading storage companies such as Adaptec, HP/Compaq, IBM, Intel and LSI Logic.
"This is an important step in our plan to accelerate growth and further penetrate the System Interconnect market. This acquisition leverages our experience with the PCI-X standard and its applications to better meet the needs of storage customers," said Jim Roche, President and chief executive of Tundra in a statement.
The IBM product line has been available since 2000 and was the industry's first PCI-X-to-PCI-X Bus Bridge.
Tundra said it has established distribution channels and a global sales and marketing team, and stressed it will work with IBM Microelectronics to provide a smooth transition for existing customers of the devices.
"IBM will continue to support Tundra through foundry services for the manufacture of the Tundra Tsi310 PCI-X Bus Bridge. We believe the combination of our technology and manufacturing capabilities, coupled with Tundra's established presence in this market segment, makes an attractive combination for customers," said Mark Ireland, manager, PowerPC strategy and business development at IBM Microelectronics.
