Spire to sell VCSELs in Japan

Spire to sell VCSELs in Japan

Spire Corp. (Bedford, MA) and Shimadzu Corp. (Kyoto, Japan) have formed a strategic alliance to sell vertical-cavity surface-emitting-laser (VCSEL) products in Japan. The semiconductor diode lasers are used in data communications and high-speed optical interconnect systems for telecommunications switching gear, as well as optical data storage and laser printers. Spire is starting production of single VCSELs and VCSEL arrays. The first products are designed for such communication applications as Gigabit Ethernet and Fibre Channel. Shimadzu will distribute Spire products in Japan and will also start production of VCSEL devices at its fabrication facility in Atsugi. The companies expect the market for VCSELs to be more than $100 million by 2002.