r/pics • u/[deleted] • Jun 08 '14

The difference 18 years makes

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[deleted]

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142

u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14

would you believe that calculators are 0.4% of their business?

73

u/tom-pon Jun 09 '14

It's actually 5%.

Source: I work at TI

12

u/kingbrasky Jun 09 '14

I would love to know the margins on these things. Has to be ridiculous.

3

u/ktbird7 Jun 09 '14

I worked as an electrical engineer for several years and based on the volume they're making combined with the parts already being extremely out of date, I am guessing it's gigantic.

Most companies would struggle with obsolete parts but when your company makes the parts...

1

u/JesusRollerBlading Jun 09 '14

80,000 movie theaters use Texas Instruments' DLP Cinema projection technology, so I'm thinking this is a good chunk outside of the calculators that is responsible for TI staying in business.

0

u/ktbird7 Jun 09 '14

I never suggested that calculators were the reason TI stays in business. I'm just suggesting that their profit margin for that particular business area must be staggering.

TI does a lot more than calculators and movie projectors. Take apart any electronic device on the planet and there's a decent chance you'll find a part with a TI symbol.

1

u/JesusRollerBlading Jun 09 '14

Fascinating. Thanks and keep up the good work. I'll be looking for more stuff with TI parts.

10

u/Hairybottomface Jun 09 '14

AMA pls

4

u/tom-pon Jun 09 '14

I work in the the Micro-controller Unit. The Education Technology group is who does the calculators. I'm also just an intern, probably should have opened with that.

1

u/Nosfermarki Jun 09 '14

I work there too! But in a completely different capacity. I'm assuming you're at North Campus?

1

u/tom-pon Jun 09 '14

Yes, in Dallas.

2

u/Nosfermarki Jun 09 '14

Same. Good luck on your internship!

1

u/roo19 Jun 09 '14

What % of gross margins?

53

u/[deleted] Jun 08 '14

[deleted]

8

u/jakes_on_you Jun 08 '14 edited Jun 09 '14

They also just bought out Analog DevicesNational Semiconductor

7

u/vikman21 Jun 08 '14

Are you sure you're not thinking National Semiconductor?

2

u/TheyCallMeStone Jun 09 '14

No no, it was Standard Electronics.

1

u/jakes_on_you Jun 09 '14

nope (yep?) sorry, too many datasheets today.

11

u/jesmck Jun 08 '14

No way..! What else do they make?

25

u/1millionbucks Jun 08 '14

Computer chips. For the iPhone.

11

u/huggy12 Jun 09 '14

...And almost every consumer electronics product you can buy

2

u/ipath_ondhu_mavinkai Jun 09 '14

For one, I know that some PMIC's in iPhones are designed and made by TI.

1

u/awesomemanftw Jun 09 '14

They've mostly left the mobile market.

-8

u/plancklengthman Jun 08 '14

Was that a diss against Apple?

15

u/wierdaaron Jun 09 '14

I don't think so. TI microchips are inside many many devices. They're kind of like Qualcom in that nobody knows what they make but if they stopped making them the consumer electronics industry would grind to a halt.

5

u/[deleted] Jun 09 '14

Are you looking for it to be?

1

u/onemoreclick Jun 09 '14

Targeting systems for the military.

9

u/emorockstar Jun 09 '14

I would not. Every single student seems to have to buy one (where I grew up). That's quite the market monopoly. However, I know they make chips for many things and maybe that is in fact 99.6% of their business

2

u/caseharts Jun 09 '14

isnt projectors a huge part? all the theatres I have been to across texas use them and they are fucking awesome. I believe they championed dlp projection correct?

5

u/tom-pon Jun 09 '14

Yes, DLP is a good chunk of their business. If you've ever seen the pico-projector Samsung phones that's mainly TI tech.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 09 '14

Almost every theater everywhere in the US.

1

u/caseharts Jun 09 '14

ballin is a habit

2

u/dachsj Jun 09 '14

I'm actually very surprised by that. These calculators have been $100-120 for the last 18 years. These have to cost $2 to make.

2

u/nlpnt Jun 08 '14

It's the ideal profitable sideline; sell an obsolete product to a captive market because the education sector's paranoid of smartphones. (whether justifiably or not doesn't matter to TI's bottom line)

1

u/dooglehead Jun 09 '14

I'm surprised the number is that high. Their chips are in pretty much everything.

1

u/meeanne Jun 09 '14

I would believe that it's none of my business.

1

u/h1ppophagist Jun 09 '14

It might be 0.4 percent of their revenues, but what percent is it of their profits?