Via - "Do as I say, not as I do?"

[Jeff H]

As reported by VR-Zone, "VIA Counters Intel's Allegation:"

"Intel has made repeated claims both in the media and in discussions with customers that we are not licensed to sell products that are compatible with the Intel Pentium 4. We disagree with these and other scare tactics that Intel is employing in the PC industry for marketing purposes. Intel should deal with facts openly and communicate through official press releases rather than threatening customers and sowing seeds of doubt in the marketplace," commented Richard Brown, Director of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc.

OK, I know Intel has bullied manufacturers for years, and I'm not at all condoning that. But, I've read recently that Via is doing the same thing to mobo manufacturers, relative to SiS. So, how is what Via is allegedly doing (to SiS) any different than what Intel is allegedly doing to Via?

 

[vash]

The difference, so far, is the threat of litigation.

Intel has bullied companies, telling them they won't sell chipsets to them, sell them at a higher rate and finally, they have mildly threatened litigation against companies that use VIA P4 chipsets.

VIA, on the other hand, hasn't threatened litigation. They have, however, given discounts on customers that don't use any SiS chipsets -- which makes sense (Intel does the same).

If Intel sues VIA and companies that make use VIA P4 chipsets, that'll be a defining moment on when Intel has really crossed the line. Its one thing to give one of your customers preferance over the other because they support one of your competitors (which is a common thing, to protect your interests), but its another thing to sue your customers because they use a competing product. If Intel does sue VIA (again) and does sue the partners that use VIA P4 chipsets, it'll make one of two things:

1. The company will never, ever, make non-Intel motherboards again.
2. The company will never, ever, make Intel motherboards again.

The likelyhood of #2 is pretty low, #1 is definitely going to seem like a better solution for more companies. If more companies choose to only make Intel chipset boards, AMD is going to have to get into the motherboard making business (which they don't want to, its already such a low margin).

Intel is just trying to scare some people (ihmo) into waiting for Intel's P4+DDR boards. Its just a scare tactic. If it becomes more, then we should all be concerned.

vash