Porter s Five Forces

Buyer Power: -Relatively little buyer power from the consumer s perspective, as they often buy the finished products, not the microprocessors themselves -Manufacturers have limited power as they may exercise discretion in choosing whom they partner with. Supplier Power: -Protection provided by patents: Patent protection means that the invention cannot be commercially made, used, distributed or sold without the patent owner's consent. -A high demand for microprocessors arise from technology used in cell phones and iPods, just to name a few.
Where the switching costs are high e.g. switching from one software supplier to another Power is high where the brand is powerful e.g. Intel, Apple, Toshiba etc.

Rivalry: -Currently little direct competition but industry titans like Intel and Toshiba have the capabilities to design these microprocessors as well. Threat of Substitutes: -Potentially many viable substitutes for microprocessors as a component for a marketable good. -Need to both be innovative and good at marketing to successful manufacturers.
This is most likely to be high where entry is likely; there is the threat of substitute products, and suppliers and buyers in the market attempt to control

Barriers to Entry: -Patents -High R&D costs, as sophisticated technology tends to evolve rather quickly.