Advantest Corporation

Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857, NYSE: ATE) is Japan's top-ranked semiconductor testing device manufacturer, and its largest maker of electronic measuring and testing equipment. Its devices are used, for example, to check cellular phone signals transmitted to base stations, or to test the speed and accuracy of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) computer chips. Its customers include manufacturers of automobiles, aviation equipment, consumer electronics, semiconductors, and telecommunications equipment. Advantest has subsidiaries in nearly a dozen countries, and is using alliances to boost its development and distribution, with overseas sales comprising approximately 60 percent of total sales. Fujistu Ltd. has an approximately 20 percent stake in Advantest.