The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

Falling chip sales cost more jobs

One in ten go at STMicro

Agentless Backup is Not a Myth

STMicro is laying off 4,500 people - one in ten of its workforce - and won't provide revenue guidance for next year until the market is clearer.

The company will cut $700m from expenses in 2009 by slashing jobs and "resizing" manufacturing operations. STMicro makes chips for industrial applications, set-top boxes and cars.

STMicro will cut 50 per cent from its capital expenditure, down to $500m.

The chipmaker said global uncertainty and the recession made it difficult to forecast demand: "Consequently, the Company will only provide approximate revenue and gross margin internal planning targets with respect to the first quarter of 2009.

"When visibility on market conditions improve, the Company will reconsider providing quantitative guidance similar to past practices."

The company brought in $10bn in 2007 but is predicting, for internal purposes, revenues for the next quarter to be between $1.5bn and $1.85bn.

STM will continue to work on its joint venture Ericsson Mobile Platforms. It will run its fabs at 50 per cent capacity in order to cut inventory levels.

Full statement here. ®

Customer Success Testimonial: Recovery is Everything

Latest Comments

@Doug Glass

To quote the article "STMicro makes chips for industrial applications, set-top boxes and cars."

That's a real company than employs real people, designs and makes real things, all of which are used by other manufacturers of real things. This is the real economy, stupid.

0
0

Huh?

Not enough fanboys buying the latest cutting-edge high end gizmos? Damn, imagine that.

0
0

More from The Register

Samsung Galaxy Note 8: Proof the pen is mightier?
Sammy’s iPad Mini killer has a stylus to stab other rivals too
Microsoft lures buy-curious vixens, corduroys with a cheap fondle
Surface slab sales latest: Will no one rid Ballmer of these turbulent tabs?
First look: iOS 7 for iPad
No, Apple hasn't released it yet, but that doesn't stop intrepid devs
 breaking news
Curtain drops on Apple Store ahead of WWDC: What lies behind?
Steve Jobs watching from on high. No pressure, lads
 breaking news
Cold, dead hands of Steve Jobs slip from iPhones: The Cult of Ive is upon us
Billionaire biz baron's death clears way for uber-shiny iOS 7
Airbus imagines suitcases that find themselves
Point your mobe at your smalls to track their every move
Surprise! Intel smartphone trounces ARM in power trials
Tests show equal performance while sipping significantly less juice
Samsung plans LTE Advanced version of Galaxy S4
1Gbps download capability could stiffen drooping S4 sales forecasts
Apple said to be 'exploring' 5.7-inch iPhone
Who's the copycat this time, Mr. Cook?
Google Chromebooks now in over 6,600 stores
Major, worldwide retail push begins this summer