Just before the summers -- when Cola companies fight it out in open for market share -- a different type of battle is in progress. This time its a chip war between market leader Intel and the underdog AMD. One of the main reason why world's second largest chip maker is upset is due to an unfair trade rule in government tenders that ask bidders to bid with machines having only Intel microprocessors. Due to this clause AMD is being left out of most tenders and rival Intel is gaining market share without competition. AMD said this unfair law is one of the main reason why Intel commands so much market share in India (79.6%).

But looks like things are improving slowly as the state of Karnataka has recently removed ‘Intel-based system’ clause in tenders. And as things remain unchanged in other states, AMD is planning to move the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to make a representation on monopoly trade practices.

“We plan to represent our anti-trust case in the Competition Commission of India. What we want from the government is fair and open competition and a chance to participate in government tenders. Currently, choice for government agencies to opt for any other chip technology just does not exist in 90% of the tenders. AMD has aggressively taken up this issue with the government,” says AMD India MD Alok Ohrie.

[Via ET]