ATI wins big chip deal

ATI Technologies has won a major deal to supply graphics and video semiconductors to General Instrument for set top boxes. According to a press release from the company, GI wants to build 15 million set top boxes which will use the ATI chips. That is likely to guarantee ATI a steady stream of revenue over the next five years with the chip sets for each of the set top boxes worth an estimated $20 apiece. The set top boxes built by GI will be deployed by US company Tele-Communications, which is selling them to its cable customers, largely for Internet-based services. ®