Texas Instruments Asia has confirmed it is in discussions with China’s Great Wall Technology Co for a possible joint venture according to TI Asia corporate communications director Desmond Wong. Great Wall, which is in the middle of an international IPO prior to listing in Hong Kong next week, had announced its plans to spend some of the proceeds on a 35% stake in a venture with TI. Wong, who is based in Taiwan, said: The joint venture will be in the design and development of applications for IT, telecommunications and electronics products in China.
Noting TI’s business focus has changed over the years and it now concentrates on semiconductors and high-end graphic calculators, Wong said we foresee a digital revolution in China and TI is putting its resources behind supplying the needs of the recipients of this revolution. He said that TI has already launched a digital signal processor (DSP) lab in China because DSPs are the engines of future digital electronic products, and said the link-up with Great Wall will help position TI to better supply China’s digital needs. The plan under discussion involves Great Wall manufacturing digital and electronic end products for sale in China, while TI supplies the semiconductor components. Both companies will be involved in developing the software necessary to run applications on the products.
