China investigates Samsung, Micron and SK Hynix

05 June 2018
The companies are the dominant DRAM suppliers and might be pressured to share tech with Chinese makers.

Sort by:

AnonD-708837, 07 Jun 2018The way China raises prices on valuable minerals needed to ... moreChina can raise prices to any level it likes ... but China can not collude with another country to fix prices!

A company can raise prices as much as it like ... but it can not collude with another company to fix prices!

    • D
    • AnonD-708837
    • PMH
    • 07 Jun 2018

    abigfanoftechs, 06 Jun 2018There is nothing to stop other countries from doing similar... moreThe way China raises prices on valuable minerals needed to make these chips also extortion.. Door swings both ways

      In short China suspect pricing cartel move from all this companies for deliberately rising prices of memory chips

        Anonymous, 05 Jun 2018This is the cost of doing business in China and that is you... moreThere is nothing to stop other countries from doing similar deals!
        China is using its market size as leverage.
        As a business you need to balance out the pros & cons ... as an on going concern.

        There are local rules in China, US, EU etc... which businesses have to abide by.
        Of course, these rules can be removed via the WTO if the so called large countries think it benefit them.

          • Z
          • ZXC
          • 2@v
          • 06 Jun 2018

          the way these tech companies increases the prices of component to make huge profits is also extortion.

            • S
            • Stan
            • RaX
            • 06 Jun 2018

            Anonymous, 05 Jun 2018The same can be said about the west.Except for demands of handing over trade secrets. If anything is crossing the line, this goes far beyond it, as if it was never there.

              • A
              • Anonymous
              • 4S2
              • 05 Jun 2018

              Ghostwolf87, 05 Jun 2018Ok, let's explain something. When you only have 3 or 4 man... moreThe same can be said about the west.

                Anonymous, 05 Jun 2018This is the cost of doing business in China and that is you... moreAnywhere else in the world that is called extortion, plain and simple. "Doing business" is just an excuse used by short-sighted, greedy firms who don't care who they put the shaft to.

                Blackberry was smart back when they wouldn't build in China. That is why BB OS is still considered the most secure of the mobile OS's.

                Now with Android, they are wide open to whatever spyware their Chinese factories put in them and have no way to fix it. Even Windows Mobile was better at security than Android.

                Too bad the Key Two doesn't come without a OS preinstalled, and you are given an option of BB OS or Windows Mobile when you start it the first time. Now THAT would be a nice option.

                Why not have that for every smartphone? Don't be locked into a default OS, give users an option.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • 4Ax
                  • 05 Jun 2018

                  This is the cost of doing business in China and that is you must share some of your technology with the state so local firms can benefit.

                  I know for a fact this is why for the longest time BlackBerry didn't want to make phones in China for this reason because they would be required to give up all or portions of their operating system source code to the state. Notice how now they've moved to Android and they're making phones in China now.

                  All foreign car makers also have to partner with a local firm so they can learn and benefit from them. A foreign firm in China always has to give a "a cut" in some shape or firm to a local firm.

                    • N
                    • Nzi97
                    • tu6
                    • 05 Jun 2018

                    Ghostwolf87, 05 Jun 2018Ok, let's explain something. When you only have 3 or 4 man... more
                    Well it's depend, they maybe only 3 company, but they are big one, especially samsung(technically these 3 are not the only company that make memory chip)
                    So they actually have the resources and fab to make them, increasing demand may not be the actual problem, it can be that because of increase in demand they ramp up the price to increase profit margin per bulk order, well business 101
                    But i might be totally wrong, i hope it's the cas

                      Ok, let's explain something. When you only have 3 or 4 manufacturers of a high-demand product, naturally prices will be high. That is supply and demand 101.

                      Now, is there collusion between them? Possibly, but DEMANDING that they hand over their tech secrets to "local companies" i.e. Chinese State-owned companies is no better, and actually far worse.

                      If it wasn't for their government protecting/financing them, NONE of the Chinese companies could survive commercially. All they know how to do is copy/steal other companies designs, tweak a couple things cosmetically, then call it "innovative".

                      China wouldn't have a cell phone industry if foreign companies hadn't gone there looking for cheap labor.

                        • D
                        • AnonD-762416
                        • mY{
                        • 05 Jun 2018

                        About time someone looks into this. The massively inflated price on memory, especially the GDDR kind, has been going for years now.

                          Aren't the US also investigating the RAM price fixing crime too?

                            china big bully, 05 Jun 2018as usual, china will find ways to find fault, then slap a f... moreYup. Just like Americans do.

                              • K
                              • Kangal
                              • uCX
                              • 05 Jun 2018

                              They can TRY and steal corporate secrets, but it won't fly in a relatively free market/free world.

                              However, I think this probe might just be about the increase in prices. If the Chinese find evidence that the two giants were cooperating to stall the market and profit, then I hope they fine them immensely for the anticompetitive and antitrust practices.

                              Though there's just not enough information to go off yet, so we should hold judgement until we get a clearer story.

                                • c
                                • china big bully
                                • tR6
                                • 05 Jun 2018

                                as usual, china will find ways to find fault, then slap a fine on them. Those big players will be forced to transfer knowledge to china companies and slowly china will get rid of them.ZTE is just a wake up call for China and they will soon be fighting back