微软明年将投资22亿美元用于无线芯片业务

据调查机构IHS公司称，继微软以72亿美元收购诺基亚移动终端业务后，公司计划在2014年将投资59亿美元在半导体业务，其中37%（约22亿美元）用来开发智能手机和平板等无线设备的芯片业务。

微软9月份以72亿美元收购诺基亚移动终端业务的举动将使其成为世界上最大的购买硅产品的公司之一，有助于其扩大平板电脑和智能手机市场。微软是一家Windows软件制造商，预计在2014年以59亿美元购买半导体业务。

微软明年在半导体业务的投资将高于今年的37.8亿美元，以及2012年的35.5亿美元，使微软成为世界第八大芯片买方，并能够改善其小配件，可以更好地与大型对手如三星和苹果竞争。微软在2012年和2013年排名在第13位和第15位，远远落后于行业领导者。

IHS表示，在微软投资的59亿美元中，它在智能手机和平板电脑等无线设备芯片业务的资金占到约37%，大概为22亿美元，比去年的1.1亿美元大幅上升。

IHS半导体投资及设计高级分析师MysonRobles-Bruce表示，微软下一个挑战将是制定合理的战略，使智能手机和平板电脑产品获得成功，并得到更深层次的普及。

微软曾表示，对于诺基亚的收购其真正开始提高利润要到2016年。目前这笔收购仍然受到反垄断机构的批准，等待周二（19日）才能得到诺基亚股东的批准。

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With Nokia, Microsoft to Invest $2B More in Wireless Chips

Microsoft’s $7.2 billion purchase of Nokia’s device business will make it one of the world’s biggest buyers of silicon products, helping it to expand its line of tablets and smartphones, according to IHS (IHS).

The Redmond, Wash.–based Windows software maker, which announced plans in September to buy the heart of Nokia’s smartphone business, will buy an estimated $5.9 billion worth of semiconductors in 2014.

That’s up from $3.78 billion this year and $3.55 billion in 2012, making Microsoft the world’s eighth biggest purchaser of chips and enabling it to improve its gadgets and better compete with larger rivals like Samsung and Apple (AAPL).

To give some perspective, Microsoft was just the 13th and 15th largest in 2012 and 2013, far lagging the industry leaders.

Of that $5.9 billion, IHS says Microsoft will use roughly 37% –or about $2.2 billion –on chips for wireless devices like smartphones and tablets, a sharp rise from the mere $110 million in spent on them last year.

"One challenge for Microsoft will be formulating a strategy for success and deeper penetration of its smartphone and tablet lines," said Myson Robles-Bruce, senior analyst of semiconductor spend and design for IHS.

Microsoft has said that it doesn’t expect the Nokia buy to actually start driving significant improvements to profits until 2016. The deal faces Nokia shareholder approval next Tuesday and remains subject to antitrust approvals.