National Semiconductor Corp, Santa Clara, California, has slimmed down to four business units from seven in the wake of dismal earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter. National Semiconductor’s net profits dropped 88.8% in the fourth quarter (CI No 2,929). The four new units – analog, logic and memory products, communications and consumer, and personal systems – come one month after Brian Halla was appointed CEO, replacing Gilbert Amelio, who left to head Apple Computer Corp. National Semiconductor says the analog division will be its core competency. Its communications and consumer unit will likely be the home for its Java-based Internet-ready devices announced last month, including its iPhone, a telephone with built-in Internet access (CI No 2,924). The company is also centralizing its manufacturing operations into one technology and manufacturing group and is seeking an executive to head it.
