SiS has said it is currently seeking a licence from Intel allowing it to produce chipsets compatible with the upcoming 800MHz quad-pumped Pentium 4 frontside bus. The announcement was made in a statement issued a day after Intel and VIA - SiS" chief rival - had agreed to settle their differences and end more than two years" of legal hostilities.
That battle has hindered VIA"s ability to compete in the P4 chipset market. It was forced to offer its own-brand motherboards based on its P4 chipsets because some major mobo makers were unwilling to risk Intel"s wrath by supporting the parts. That reluctance has helped the likes of SiS and ATI extend their reach into the P4 chipset market. With VIA now able to compete freely, the pressure is on SiS, which is now touting its "good relationship" with Intel and the way it "always maintains high regards in fair competition and rights of intellectual property [sic]" as a differentiator. The implication is clear: other, rival chipset makers - and one in particular - doesn"t share these virtues.
Suddenly, though, SiS goes all coy: "Regarding the relationship between Intel and other company, it is inappropriate for SiS to make any comments at this juncture. "Why not, when you"ve already said it"s "good" and "long-term"? SiS expects to have won its 800MHz FSB licence very soon - in "a short period of time".