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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K

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                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 25, 2006

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                                ATMEL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Delaware                    0-19032                77-0051991
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(State or other jurisdiction of        (Commission            (IRS Employer
         incorporation)               File Number)         Identification No.)

                              2325 Orchard Parkway
                               San Jose, CA 95131
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

                                 (408) 441-0311
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
     Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
     Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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ITEM 2.02.  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

               On April 25, 2006, Atmel Corporation issued a press release
               discussing its financial results for the first quarter ended
               March 31, 2006. The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.


               This information shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of
               Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
               (the "Exchange Act"), or incorporated by reference in any filing
               under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange
               Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference
               in such a filing.

ITEM 9.01.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d)  Exhibits.

Exhibit No.    Description
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99.1           Press release, dated as of April 25, 2006, entitled
               "Atmel Reports Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2006"



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                             ATMEL CORPORATION
                                             (Registrant)


                                             By:  /s/ Robert Avery
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                  Robert Avery
                                                  Vice President Finance and
                                                  Chief Financial Officer

Date:  April 25, 2006



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.    Description
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99.1           Press release, dated as of April 25, 2006, entitled
               "Atmel Reports Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2006"