UMC + Google Nexus 7 & Q

choi

(1) Ken Liu, Qualcomm Contracts UMC as Second 28nm Process Supplier. CENS,com, July 2, 2012.
http://news.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_40603.html

I do not know what to make of the sentence: "In addition to UMC, Qualcomm has also chosen Samsung as another contact supplier of 28nm process." The table at the end of the report doe not show Samsung.

(2) Dylan McGrath, UMC looks for boost with IBM license deal. EETimes, June 29, 2012.
http://www.eetimes.com/electroni ... h-IBM-license-deal-
("UMC will be the only pure-play foundry to offer FinFETs at the 20-nm node. * * * Both TSMC and Globalfoundries are currently planning to introduce FinFETs—three-dimensional, fin-based multi-gate transistors—at the 14-nm node in 2014 or 2015. * * * Intel Corp. is already producing chips with FinFETs—or what Intel calls tri-gate transistors—at the 22-nm node")

My comment:
(a) The report cited in the first paragraph:
Dylan McGrath, UMC licenses IBM technology for 20-nm FinFETs. EETimes, June 29, 2012
, which there is no need to read, for duplication.
(b) The report cites press release:
UMC Aligns With IBM on 20nm Process with FinFET 3D Transistors. UMC, June 29, 2012.
http://www.umc.com/English/news/2012/20120629.asp
(c) For FinFET, see multigate device
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multigate_device
(section 2.3 FinFETs)

(2)
(a) On June 27, 2012 Google unveiled Google Nexus 7 Tablet (co-developed with hardware maker Asus), Jelly Bean (mobile Android 4.1), Nexus Q player.
http://www.google.com/nexus/#/

(i) The web page does not mention manufacturer for any of the three devices.
(ii) The latest version of Nexus smartphone, released in May (?), 2012 has five manufacturers--as opposed to single manufacturer in Nexus One (aka HTC Passion; made by HTC; available on January 5, 2010) or Nexus S (made by Samsung; released in November 2011).
(b) John Markoff, Google Taking A Retro Route: Made in US. New York Times, June 27, 2012 (front age).
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/2 ... &pagewanted=all

Quot:

"On the underside of the Nexus Q is a simple inscription: 'Designed and Manufactured in the USA'

"Google is not saying a lot about its domestic manufacturing, declining even to disclose publicly where the factory is in Silicon Valley. It also is not saying much about the source of many of its parts in the United States.

"At $299, the device costs significantly more than competing systems from companies like Apple and Roku. Google says this is in part because of the higher costs of manufacturing in the United States

"Google uses a contract manufacturer to make the Q. * * * hundreds of workers were involved in making the Q.

My comment: I am a free trader,having been in US for so long. Unlike many in Taiwan or US, I do not mind China making things. It is simply unrealistic for Americans to make millions of, say, iPad. Naturally I am not disinterested, for Taiwanese factories are behind many of products labeled with "made in China."