AMD to Intel: ‘Girl You Know It’s True’
by John Paczkowski
Posted on July 27, 2007 at 9:46 AM PT
If Advanced Micro Devices is, as former Intel CEO Andy Grove once said, “the Milli Vanilli of semiconductors,” then Intel may turn out to be its Clear Channel.
The European Commission said today it has brought antitrust charges against Intel, which the commission accuses of violating competition laws and abusing its dominant position in the global microprocessor market. “In the short, medium and long term,” said an EC spokesman, “we think that the actions of Intel are bad news for competition and consumers.”
Obviously, Intel disagrees. “We are confident that the microprocessor market segment is functioning normally and that Intel’s conduct has been lawful, pro-competitive and beneficial to consumers,” Intel Senior Vice President Bruce Sewell said in a press release, adding that there was compelling evidence that the “industry is fiercely competitive and working.”
AMD, which sued Intel in June 2005, claiming the company had coerced customers into scrapping or delaying the launch of machines outiftted with AMD chips, dismissed Intel’s comments. “It’s preposterous to claim to be the guardian of consumers,” said AMD spokesman Jens Drews. “I think they have overplayed their hand there.”
