U.S. authorities reach agreement with Intel antitrust

The Federal Trade Commission USA announced its agreement with Intel Corp. as a victory for consumers who for a decade have overpaid for computer microchips, although buyers should not expect a sudden drop in prices.The deal announced Wednesday marks the end of stronger antitrust suit that Intel has faced so far by government regulators and imposed a strict set of changes.
But everything changed as a result of the Commission's actions will likely be gradual and probably imperceptible to most.

One reason is that the prices of computer microchips have dropped steadily as technological advances cheapen the production of more powerful microchips. Consumers have come to acquire more powerful equipment for less money.
The case is based on the premise that these prices have not fallen as much as they could have done. The Commission accused Intel of help that situation by abusing his position as number one provider of central processing units (CPU) and graphics processing units (GPU) to move to rivals in the market and stifle competition.

 

Intel antitrust

The CPU is the "brains" of computers and are among the most expensive components, often account for 15% to 20% of the computer. The GPU are microchips that highlight the graphics on computer screens.
The head of the Commission, Jon Leibowitz, said Intel's behavior was exceeded beyond the "type of vigorous competition that all stimulated to move to the area of inequitable conduct, misleading and anticompetitive."

Intel has denied the charges and declining prices put forward as evidence that the market is functioning normally.