I wonder if it may be linked to their change in strategy......

Intel plans to open up its small semiconductor foundry business to more companies as part of a major strategic overhaul under a new leadership team headed by CEO Brian Krzanich.

"We're going to go much further. If we can utilize our silicon to provide the best computing, we'll do that. People who can use our leading edge and build computing capabilities that are better than anyone else's, those are good candidates for our foundry service," Krzanich was quoted as saying by Reuters during the company's annual Analyst Day on Thursday.

Intel has traditionally utilized its state-of-the-art silicon fabrication facilities to manufacture its own x86-based microprocessors on a near-exclusive basis. But a few years ago, the chip giant started sending signals that it was considering selling its manufacturing services to other chip design firms. Early last year, Intel confirmed that it had been quietly offering semiconductor manufacturing services to third-party customers while bringing its state-of-the-art 22-nanometer fabs online.

This all occurred as the company's erstwhile bitterest rival, Advanced Micro Devices, spun off its own manufacturing assets and Intel found itself struggling to compete in the mobile device market with fabless companies like Qualcomm. At the same time, Intel watched as Samsung supplied Apple with foundry services for the chips in iPhones and iPads, even as the South Korean tech giant managed to also compete directly with Cupertino with Android-based handsets and tablets.

complete article link below:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2427538,00.asp