International Business Machines Corp (IBM) yesterday unveiled a new semiconductor manufacturing process which enables the company to fit more computer "intelligence" onto a single chip.
The technology, called CMOS 7S, is the first to use copper instead of aluminum for electronic circuitry on silicon wafers. IBM said it believes the move will lead to the development of improved chips.
The news boosted IBM's stock $5.06 ($3.46) to $104.31 on the New York Stock Exchange, where it was the second most active share at mid-afternoon.
The technology will be used to help build faster and more powerful microprocessors for computer systems and allow electronics manufacturers to create new products that are smaller, lighter and require less power, IBM said.
IBM said it expects to have chips based on the technology on the market early next year.
Analysts who have been given the chance to review the new technology agreed it ranks as a key achievement and one that is unlikely to be matched very soon.
"This is a critical technology and IBM appears to be further along than anybody else by at least a year," said Mr Bryan Lewis, an analyst at market research firm Dataquest.
