Future Watch

Intel Gets Into the Alpha Biz

1 That's the number of years Intel claims it will take to make Digital's main semiconductor facility profitable, once Intel assumes control. In an attempt to settle a patent dispute over technology used in the Pentium processor, Intel recently agreed to buy Digital's semiconductor operations for $700 million, plus other considerations such as chip licensing fees and Intel processor discounts to Digital. Intel gets a chip facility for less than the estimated price tag of $2 billion needed to build a new facility. Digital sheds its unprofitable facility while retaining ownership of the Alpha processor itself.

10 is the number of years (according to reliable sources) that Intel is obligated to continue producing the Alpha once it takes o ver the plant (t he deal is still subject to approval by the U.S. government).

1 is the number of operating systems (Digital Unix) Digital says it will help port to Intel's forthcoming Merced processor, expected to ship in 1999.

25 That's how many years Digital officials said Alpha would be part of the company's strategy back when it introduced the chip in 1992.