BTG International has accused several technology giants--including Apple, Dell and Sony--of infringing five patents related to flash memory technology by using chips from Samsung Electronics.

Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (GSMC) has announced the availability of its 0.18-micron cost effective OTP (One Time Programmable) process platform for applications such as voice controlled devices, remote controls, small home appliances or touch panels.

Shares of MEMC Electronic Materials fell the day after the wafer maker's second-quarter profits dropped 96% on another steep fall in sales, though its semiconductor business showed improvement even as its solar end continues to struggle.

Samsung plans to spend 70% of its total chip investment projected in the second half to sharpen the next DRAM chips, while Hynix will also use a great portion of its investment budget for the chips.

South Korea's Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics (LGE) and SK Telecom will work with other local companies to make semiconductors for hightech digital appliances that can replace imports, the government said Monday.

The foundry's goal is to have the first tool move in by October 2011, with qualification coming in early 2012 and commercial production by the second half of 2012.

Shares of solar-energy company LDK Solar rose sharply on July 24 after the Chinese company raised its second-quarter revenue and shipment forecasts. LDK plans to report its results on August 12.

Samsung Electronics reported its highest quarterly net profit in over two years on Friday as its semiconductor and LCD businesses returned to profitability.

"We are very pleased with our return to profitability in the second quarter, driven by increased pricing, higher royalty revenues and strong execution," said company CEO Eli Harari. "We remain cautiously optimistic about the second half of 2009."

Disney Japan plans to sell DVDs that include copies of the film on microSD cards for use in mobile devices. The extra format will cost 1,000 yen more.

Apple said that it has made a US$500 million prepayment to Toshiba for flash memory chips and indicated the market is stabilizing. Intel, which makes flash chips jointly with Micron, is also seeing a recovery in pricing.

Robert Rivet, AMD's CFO said in a conference call that capex for subsidiary Globalfoundries would be trimmed to US$690 million.

NEC is considering raising funds to strengthen its capital base, which has suffered during the economic downturn, according to sources familiar with matter.

Chip equipment maker ASM International (ASMI) has announced that it is accelerating its cost reduction and restructuring of worldwide front-end operations.

The giant South Korean company Samsung Electronics has said it will invest more than US$4 billion to cut emissions from its plants.