|
 |
Editorial Notes |
|
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: INSTANT JAVA ST's SmartJ platform combines direct execution of Java byte codes with a powerful native RISC instruction set.. |
|
JUST OUT OF THE LAB! The semiconductor industry is still a youthful one, riddled with cyclical adolescent crises and instabilities, yet blessed with another five decades of healthy life ahead. |
|
A NEW POWER MOSFET SPECIES Revolutionary MDmesh™ technology from ST combines a new vertical drain structure with the well-established Mesh Overlay™ horizontal layout. This brings substantial reduction in power losses, leading to lower junction temperatures even with smaller packages. |
|
Around the World NUMBER ONE IN THE USA ST's United States subsidiary,STMicroelectronics, Inc. wins the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award - the highest level of recognition for quality that a US company can receive. ANOTHER FRENCH FIRST FOR ST ST is named among the top French companies in terms of innovation by French leading bi-monthly business publication, L'Expansion. |
|
CULTIVATING A GREEN GARDEN ST takes a pro-active role in developing products that will lead to lower energy consumption, not only in the products themselves, but also in the end applications. |
|
COOPERATION FOR COMMUNICATION Details of three agreements that will reinforce ST's position as a leading supplier of technology to the dynamically changing communications industry: Dot Wireless, Scientific Atlanta and Ericsson. |
|
THE END OF THE LINE FOR QUEUES? Two ground-breaking products from ST were announced in November: the ST19RF08 secure microcontroller designed for embedding in contactless smartcards; and the STRF2163 that integrates all functions of a contactless card reader in just three chips. |
|
UNIVERSITY FEATURES HANDS-ON LABS WITH CHIPS AND DEVELOPMENT TOOLS |
|
Display of Strength |
|
Fact File |
|
Brain Teaser |
|
Show Time |
|
|
Jack of all Trades... Master of All ?
Every language has its proverbs, short pithy sayings that encapsulate pieces of timeless wisdom or good advice. That's the theory - but the wisdom is not necessarily timeless! For example, "Jack of all trades, master of none" first appeared in England around two hundred years ago, at a time when entry into most trades required a long apprenticeship to a master craftsman.
In the days when exchanging information, acquiring expertise, designing new products and building new markets all took very much longer than they do today, it often made sense, too, for companies to focus on one activity. Today, however, it necessary to be a master of many different skills. This issue of Challenge includes several articles that illustrate both the breadth and depth of ST's expertise, ranging from state-of-the-art power MOSFETs to the most advanced solutions for smartcard applications.
How is it possible for a broadline semiconductor manufacturer to be a jack of all trades and a master of them all? A key part of the answer lies in ST's ability to identify the expertise that will be required in the future and take the most appropriate steps to acquire it in good time, whether by developing it alone, working with partners such as Dot Wireless, or making strategic acquisitions such as Arithmos.
In today's world, where the silicon is increasingly the system, no single skill is enough to ensure global success. This is why ST has teams all over the world working with universities, with strategic partners, with operators and service providers - sometimes even with competitors - to ensure that every skill needed to provide a complete silicon solution is in place, in time.
This ability to manage the acquisition and deployment of expertise is perhaps the most important of skills; the master of this is the master of all others. Perhaps it's time to rewrite the proverb? |
