Intel to acquire Fulcrum Microsystems
Intel has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a privately held fabless semiconductor company that designs Ethernet switch silicon for data centre network providers.
Fulcrum Microsystems designs integrated, standards based 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and 4GbE switch silicon with low latency and workload balancing capabilities. The acquisition has been made to boost Intel's presence in the 10GbE network market, one of the fastest growing segments in data centres.
According to Kirk Skaugen, Intel vice president and general manager, Data Center Group, Intel is transforming from a leading server technology company to a comprehensive data centre provider that offers computing, storage and networking building blocks. Skaugen said: "Fulcrum Microsystems' switch silicon, already recognised for high performance and low latency, complements Intel's leading processors and Ethernet controllers, and will deliver our customers new levels of performance and energy efficiency while improving their economics of cloud service delivery."
Founded in 1999, Fulcrum Microsystems is based in Calabasas, California.
