Africa
Researchers funded by the South African Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project have underlined the importance of the eagerly anticipated antenna array and the credentials of local radio astronomy by discovering a triple supermassive black hole system. These systems are thought to have a significant impact on the way galaxies evolve, particularly through their impact on stars and gas as they spiral in towards one another. When these black holes get very close to one another they are expected to emit gravitational waves. Einstein predicted these ripples in space-time a century ago and MeerKAT and the SKA have been designed to detect them.
Altech Card Solutions has yet again received the Visa International and MasterCard stamps of approval with its recertification as a Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) approved service provider. It received the certification for payment processing (POS), payment gateway/switch, and payment processing mail and telephone order (MOTO).
Samsung Electronics Africa launched one of its solar powered Internet schools (SPIS) in Senegal during the recent Dakar Summit. This follows in the footsteps of similar installations by Samsung across the continent, including South Africa. Designed for remote areas, each SPIS is built in a 12 metre long repurposed shipping container, making them easily transportable via truck. The classrooms can comfortably accommodate 24 learners and are fitted with a 50” electronic whiteboard and Samsung notebooks and netbooks.
Overseas
Business
To better serve the growing number of manufacturers of smartphones, portable electronics and other devices joining the exodus to Vietnam, global technology company Laird has opened a new manufacturing plant near the capital, Hanoi. The facility will predominantly manufacture precision metals and electronic materials for Laird’s Performance Materials Division, which designs and supplies electromagnetic interference shielding, thermal management solutions and signal integrity products.
Companies
Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik has acquired a majority stake in CellMax Technologies, a Swedish innovator of high-efficiency base station antennas. CellMax Technologies develops and markets ultra-high efficiency base station antennas for mobile networks. CellMax’s unique and patented antenna design is based on quasi waveguide technology with air as dielectric, which virtually eliminates power losses. Its customers include several of the world’s largest mobile operators and manufacturers of telecoms equipment.
Analog Devices hopes to lend momentum to its push into RF, microwave and millimetre-wave technology by leveraging its acquisition of Hittite Microwave Corporation. The two companies have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Analog Devices will acquire Hittite for $78 per share in cash, or roughly $2 billion in total, which it expects to fund through a combination of cash on hand and short-term debt financing.
AMS and Dialog Semiconductor have confirmed rumours that they are engaged in preliminary discussions over a possible merger. AMS is legally required to announce that either it does, or does not, have a firm intention to make a formal offer for Dialog by the close of business on 24 July 2014.
Molex has made two acquisitions to strengthen its interconnect offering for the industrial sector. Westec, acquired in May, brought to the table a range of junction boxes, multi-pole connectors and connector assemblies designed for automation, robotics and other heavy-duty industrial applications. The acquisition of Flamar Cavi Elettrici, which was announced just two weeks later, gives Molex access to a new offering of custom cable solutions for industrial automation, robotics, broadcast audio/video and telecommunications.
ON Semiconductor has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Aptina Imaging, a provider of high-performance CMOS image sensors for ON’s key strategic automotive and industrial markets. Other markets addressed by Aptina’s products include cameras, mobile devices, and computing and gaming platforms. Under the terms of the agreement, ON will pay approximately $400 million in cash.
Avago Technologies announced it has secured an agreement to acquire PLX Technology in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $309 million. Avago announced that it sees PLX’s PCI Express silicon and software connectivity solutions as an ideal means to further its standing in the enterprise storage and networking end markets.
TE Connectivity has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Measurement Specialties for $86 cash per share or a total transaction value of approximately $1,7 billion. TE’s CEO stated that this is a step in the company’s strategy to be a leader in the high-growth sensor industry and adds nearly $40 billion to its addressable market.
Industry
MRAM (magnetic random access memory) technology is still very much in its infancy and only finds favour in a handful of applications requiring non-volatile behaviour, but the stage is set for it to achieve widespread adoption which could signal the demise of SRAM and DRAM, according to findings by Coughlin Associates. The research firm predicts that the non-volatile nature and lowering cost of MRAM – and STT (spin-transfer torque) MRAM – will see the market for it surge from an estimated 80 terabytes in 2013 to 16,5 petabytes in 2019, with revenues increasing over the same period from $190 million to $2,1 billion.
Technology
MTM Power has patented a thermoselective vacuum encapsulation technology which it says make it modules completely resistant against shock and vibration as well as dust and humidity. Not only does their extremely hard cover make them robust, they are also free of air inclusions, and the technology allows for efficient heat dissipation of enclosed power semiconductor devices. The special encapsulation material is self-extinguishing and meets IP67 ingress protection.
Google gave visitors to its recent developer conference in San Francisco a demonstration of Project Ara, an open hardware concept developed by the company for the creation of highly modular smartphones. The platform would allow users to swap out parts of their device to change its appearance or to upgrade or add new functionality. It would also allow hobbyists and the so-called ‘maker’ community to create their own modules. The base device is scheduled to go on sale early next year for an estimated $50.
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