Transmeta sales rise as Efficeon interest grows

Transmeta saw is quarterly revenues jump 44 per cent sequentially during the first three months of the year, but its losses continue to widen.

However, the company offered an optimistic release schedule for its upcoming 90nm chips, including the prospect of a product revamp next year.

Sales for the company's first fiscal quarter totalled $5.2m - well up on Q4 2003's $3.6m but still down on the $6m it achieved in the year-ago quarter.

The chip maker lost $23.4m (14 cents a share) during Q1, an increase on both Q1 2003 ($20.1m, 15 cents a share) and Q4 2003 ($21.9m, 15 cents a share).

Transmeta CEO Matthew Perry attributed the sales jump to increased interest in the company's Efficeon TM8000 processor, the successor to Crusoe, which it launched last October.

The chip is shipping at 130nm, with a 90nm due to ship during the second half of the year and take the TM8000's clock frequency to 2GHz and beyond.

Perry said the company was making "great progress" on the 90nm development, which have now begun sampling - though we note that first silicon was due to appear in January, according to past Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Transmeta is on track for a H2 release, with limited volumes becoming available mid-year, Perry said.

"We are receiving significant interest in our 90nm Efficeon processors for products intended to ship in the second half of 2004 and in the spring of 2005," said Perry, point the way to further product updates next year. ®

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