And I think you are about to see a visible round of price increases by the chip producers.

One problem faced by the companies is that they are smaller than other non-specialized chip producers.

He was an executive in the semiconductor division in the 1980's, when it became one of the world's largest chip producers.

But the threat isn't confined just to chip producers and smaller American computer, communication and industrial electronics companies.

Third, longer-term, more stable relations must be developed among chip producers, users and suppliers.

Today some chip producers still release "test boards" to demonstrate their chips, and to use them as a "reference design".

Intel shares took a bumpy ride after the chip producer reported second-quarter results that did not exceed expectations.

The changes, instituted in response to requests from chip producers and users, would help reduce prices for new generations of chips.

Japan's consumer electronics industry has been an important market for its semiconductor companies, a market not easily available to American chip producers, they say.

Today's action by the community had been expected, and 11 Japanese chip producers have agreed to the plan.