Scientists deep in the basement of Motorola Labs emerged blinking into the sunlight earlier this week claiming to be the first to have successfully integrated bog standard silicon with optical technology speed.

The development could herald the dawn of high performance compound semiconductors running at 40 times the speed of regular silicon.

These so-called III-V materials will open the door to significantly less expensive optical communications and high speed microprocessors, eliminating the cost barriers holding back current developments.

Specifically, the technology enables very thin layers of light emitting compound gallium arsenide to be grown on a silicon substrate - until now, a virtually impossible task due to fundamental material mis-match issues.

But by introducing an intermediate layer of material between the silicon and the III-V material, optical performance can be integrated with silicon technology.

For consumers, the technology means smarter electronic products that "cost less, perform better and have exciting new features", claims Motorola.

The technology will also accelerate the development of new applications, such as broadband to the home, streaming video to cell phones and such technologies as automotive collision avoidance systems.

"This achievement will transform the industry in a way that is similar to the transition from discrete semiconductors to integrated circuits," said Dennis Roberson, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Motorola.

"Motorola's announcement could go down in history as a major turning point for the semiconductor industry," said Steve Cullen, director and principal analyst for Cahners In-Stat Group.