GlobalFoundries signs STMicro as first non-AMD customer

From InfoWorld: Advanced Micro Devices spin-off GlobalFoundries announced STMicroelectronics as a new customer on Wednesday, forging ahead in its effort to diversify manufacturing efforts over multiple customers.

GlobalFoundries will manufacture and supply chips for STMicroelectronics starting in 2010. The foundry will manufacture chips for STMicroelectronics using the 40-nanometer process, which would be ideal for handheld devices and consumer electronics, according to GlobalFoundries.

Among other things, STMicroelectronics supplies chips for mobile devices. It also owns chip manufacturing plants, but it wasn't immediately clear how much capacity GlobalFoundries would provide. GlobalFoundries declined to provide details about terms of the contract and STMicroelectronics officials weren't immediately available for comment.

GlobalFoundries has been trying to shed its reputation as AMD's manufacturing arm ever since it was spun-off earlier this year. Bringing in STMicroelectronics as a customer could underscore the establishment of GlobalFoundries as an independent fab.

"Bringing on a leader in low-power technology as our first customer is an important milestone in our transformation to an independent foundry and a strong endorsement of our leading-edge capabilities," said Jason Gorss, a GlobalFoundries spokesman.

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