The two companies intend to accelerate the introduction of high performance, low power microchips for 3G mobile phones.

The Queensland Government's Information and Communication Technology SME Taskforce on Government Procurement will identify impediments and what might be done to use government procedures to assist the development of Queensland SMEs.

The two companies have formed an alliance to market field programmable analogue array (FPAA) products and technology in Japan.

Increasing consumer confidence could lift the downturn surrounding the electronics market.

NSW based NDT have been selected to be Australian distributor for Zibra, who produce narrow diameter borescopes and fiber-scopes, rod lens scopes, customs optics, as well as rigid, semirigid, and flexible microborescopes.

Protel International has been renamed Altium Limited. As of August, all corporate, sales, support and promotional activities will take place under the Altium name, and all operating subsidiaries will also be renamed.

Within Australia and New Zealand, Dewetron’s products will be distributed by Metromatics.

Autron has signed an agreement with SembCorp Logistics that will see the latter provide supply chain management (SCM) support to both Autron and the electronics manufacturing industry.

GPS Online, based in Brisbane, has acquired a 51 per cent interest in Microelectronic Technologies from Hitachi in exchange for one million shares. The agreement makes Hitachi the eighth largest shareholder in GPS Online.

EcoRecycle, the Victorian state government agency responsible for minimising the creation of waste and promoting the sustainable use of resources, has congratulated the Australian electronics and electrical industry on its pilot program for end-of-life recovery and processing of televisions, VCRs and similar equipment.

The ITP (integrated ticketing project) contract, due for full implementation in early 2005, will involve rolling out a contactless smart card system for use on all modes of transport in the Sydney, Hunter and Illawarra regions, with plans to extend the system to the purchase of other goods and services, according to NSW Premier Bob Carr. Commuters will only need to pass the card through a validator where the fare will be deducted from the card, eliminating the need to queue.

IBM research has established a process to increase screen quality and viewing angles, whilst reducing manufacturing costs.

Elpida Memory have chosen Hitachi Australia to distribute their products in Australia and New Zealand.

Following the opening of offices in NSW and Victoria, managed by Jorg Lange, and Brian Catley respectively, Trio Electrix has announced the opening of a Brisbane office.

Leading component suppliers have set up the Electronic Components Association Australia and New Zealand (ECAANZ).