Technology, Texas Instruments | featured news

Increased demand for mobile devices like tablets has aided sales growth for this tech giant. In each of the last four quarters, Texas Instruments ($35; TXN) has reported growth of at least 20% for sales and 65% for per-share profits. In that stretch, cash provided by operations surged 30% to $3.59 billion.

Texas Instruments fourth-quarter profit soared on stronger sales and sharply higher margins, and the chip maker said its first quarter could surpass its fourth quarter, rather than the typical seasonal slowdown.

By Texas Instruments, a new, 6mm-square Bluetooth system-on-a-chip can operate for "more than a year" on a small button-cell battery (like you see in watches or very tiny remotes). Everything from cellphones to laptops could get a battery boost from the technology increasing competition for the emerging Wi-Fi Direct to Connect technology.