S3 Reborn

After unloading it's PC graphics chip business into a joint venture with VIA, S3 is recasting itself as an internet company. VIA is picking up S3's chip activities for a total of $323 million in cash and securities, with additional payments in the works if the division meets it's financial marks, while S3 maintains ownership of it's cross licensing agreements with Intel. S3, for it's part, is now looking to position itself as in Internet company. The company will focus it's growing digital consumer device business, building on successful brands like it's Rio product line. S3 is seeking out more partnerships and joint ventures to take on parts of it's ongoing multimedia board operations as it looks to move away from that area.