 |
NEWS & VIEWS |
Taipei,
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
19:31 (GMT+8)
|
|
|
Subject: Bits + chips > IC design |
Himax 3Q sales meet expectations due to product line adjustment Oct 8, 12:36 Himax Technologies announced revenues for the third quarter of NT$230.1 million, a 6.8% decline sequentially, in line with guidance provided earlier. The company expects its gross margins to decline 1-1.5 percentage points compared with 25.5% in the second quarter. Himax will announce its complete third quarter results on Tuesday, November 4. Read more |
|
|
MediaTek gearing up for WiMAX and WCDMA markets Oct 8, 12:33 MediaTek is exhibiting its WiMAX and WCDMA (W&W) chips at the 2008 Taipei International Electronics Show (Taitronics), with the WiMAX chips perhaps being mass produced at the end of 2008. WCDMA chip samples have already been sent to customers and related shipments are expected to begin in the first half of 2009. The so-called W&W chips will play an important roles for MediaTek's operation in 2009, company chairman Ming-Kai Tsai indicated. Read more |
|
|
|
|
|
Orise 3Q sales up 18.3% Oct 8, 12:26 LCD driver IC makers Orise Technology reported September sales of NT$501 million (US$15.44 million), up 5.7% on month, hitting another company record. Sales in the third quarter were NT$1.42 billion, up 18.3% sequentially. Read more |
|
|
LCD driver IC front and back-end companies report 3Q08 sales decline due to panel output reductions Oct 7, 17:00 Driver IC maker Novatek Microelectronics has reported decline in third-quarter sales due to reductions in output a panel makers. Chipbond Technology also failed to meet third-quarter expectations. Read more |
|
|
Despite a bearish market, some Taiwan IC design houses seeing share price gains amid consolidation speculation Oct 7, 16:10 While the Taiwan stock market continues to perform badly, Taiwan IC design companies Advanced Analog Technology (AAT), Alcor Micro and Anpec Electronics are showing a rebound in their share price, as market speculation indicates that each of the companies could be a target of a a merger soon. Read more |
|
|
MEMS sector expected to average 17% annual growth over next 5 years, says Yole Oct 7, 12:06 The MEMS sector will see strong growth over the coming few years because of many new products enabled by MEMS devices, with consumer applications (such as for the Wii, iPhone, PicoP picoprojector) being a major contributor to the 17% average annual expected over the next five years, according to Yole Developpement. Read more |
|
|
MediaTek September sales up 4% sequentially Stockwatch - Oct 7, 11:53 MediaTek has reported consolidated net sales for September of NT$9.85 billion (US$304 million) an increase of 4.19% from the NT$9.45 billion reported in August. Read more |
|
|
Sitronix expects to see higher sales and margins in 3Q Oct 7, 01:15 LCD driver IC design house Sitronix Technology expects to have NT$600 million (US$18.56 million) in sales for September and NT$1.8 billion for the third-quarter amid gross margins of 22.2%. The company's third quarter results are expected to represent 12-15% sequential sales growth and 0.3 percentage point margin improvement from the second quarter due to margin improvement for applications targeting large-size panels. Read more |
|
|
Etron September sales and shipments up sequentially Oct 7, 01:00 Etron Technology announced that its net sales for September 2008 were NT$700 million (US$22 million), up 6.8% from NT$656 million (US$21 million) for August 2008. Revenues from July through September totaled NT$1,997 million (US$64.3 million), up 3.5% from NT$1,930 million (US$63.5 million) for the second quarter in 2008. Read more |
|
|
Murata uses robot to highlight sensor products Oct 6, 17:05 During the recently concluded CEATEC Japan 2008, Japan-based Murata Manufacturing used a unicycle-riding robot to guide visitors to its booth and highlight the company's products. The robot, named Murata Girl, is a follow-up of the company's bicycle-riding robot, Murata Boy. Read more |
|
|
Europe and Japan firms tie up on green-LED development Oct 6, 12:23 IMEC, Europe's leading independent nanoelectronics research institute, and Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corp. (TNSC), a total solution provider in the compound semiconductor field, have announced that they have signed an agreement to jointly develop manufacturing technology for high efficiency LED (light-emitting diode) devices. The agreement marks the first time Taiyo Nippon Sanso has collaborated with an advanced research center based in Europe. Read more |
|
|
Taiwan IC design companies to see on-year sales growth in 4Q08 Oct 6, 11:49 Taiwan IC design houses are expected to see on-year sales growth in the fourth quarter this year because of the low baseline set as a result of the collapse of market demand in 2007, according to market sources. Read more |
|
|
Richtech and GMT expected to report strong September results, sales drop in 4Q should be limited Oct 3, 15:03 Despite seeing their stock prices take a beating recently, analog IC design companies Richtek Technology and Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT) are expected to have NT$700 million (US$21.75 million) and NT$370 million sales in September, respectively, up 5-10% on month and hitting monthly records thanks to customers placing orders ahead of the holiday season, market watchers noted. Read more |
|
|
Freescale offers up handset chip business Oct 3, 13:59 In line with its goal to sharpen the company's strategic focus on growth markets and its key leadership positions, Freescale Semiconductor announced that it will explore strategic options for its cellular handset chipset products business and the company intends to complete a sale, joint venture agreement or other transformation in the coming months. Read more |
|
|
Through August, semiconductor sales up 4.5% this year, says SIA Oct 3, 12:10 Worldwide sales of semiconductors grew by 5.5% on year to US$22.7 billion in August, up from August 2007 sales of US$21.5 billion, according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). Sales grew by 2.4% from July when sales were US$22.2 billion. Read more |
|
|
Orise sales in 3Q08 to hit record while in 4Q is still unclear Oct 2, 16:11 Thanks to the recovery made by international handset makers since July, sales of driver IC maker Orise Technology are tending upwards. Sales are expected to reach NT$461 million (US$14.35 million) in September and NT$1.39 billion in the third quarter, marking a company record, according to investors. Read more |
|
|
Multi-standard DTV decoding chip market set for rapid growth Oct 2, 11:26 The global transition from analog to digital television broadcast is spurring TV makers to offer sets with more advanced video decoding chips capable of working with multiple and new video standards, according to iSuppli. Read more |
|
|
IC design companies with more cash survive in Taiwan stock market Oct 1, 11:56 Taiwan IC stocks were down almost to their maximum daily limit on September 30, with only Realtek Semiconductor, Global Unichip, MediaTek and Sunplus Technology having a narrow escape, indicated market watchers. Read more |
|
|
KCUC teams up with Innolux to offer one-stop shopping to China white-box handset makers Oct 1, 11:03 According to market sources, Taiwan IC distributor Kuen Chaang Uppertech (KCUC) has teamed up with LCD panel and system maker Innolux Display with the goal of offering one-stop-shopping solutions to players in China's white-box handset market in 2009. Read more |
|
|
IST sees low utilization; reports losses for August Oct 1, 01:10 Packaging and testing house International Semiconductor Technology (IST) has seen its utilization rate drop significantly because of weak demand from driver IC clients. The company has reported losses for August totaling NT$99 million (US$3.1 million). Read more |
|
|
ITRI to develop 6-axis CMOS MEMS products in 5 years Sep 30, 17:02 Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has announced a five-year schedule for CMOS MEMS production which includes the development of 6-axis MEMS products by 2014. Read more |
|
|
Chartered Semiconductor seeks to establish cooperation alliances with IC design houses Sep 30, 16:32 While seeking technological advancement by joining the IBM-led Common Platform technology alliance, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing is also pushing the establishment of design cooperation alliances to sustain its growth, according to sources at Taiwan IC design houses. Read more |
|
|
ARM-based MID products to hit the market in 2009: Q&A with Warren East, CEO of ARM Sep 30, 15:39 ARM Holdings recently held its annual board meeting for 2008 in Taipei, highlighting the importance of the Taiwan market to its long-term business deployment. Digitimes took the opportunity to interview ARM CEO Warren East about ARM's business prospects and future technology roadmaps. Read more |
|
|
Notebook related IC houses worries about weak demand in 4Q Sep 30, 11:54 With the back-to-school peak season not meeting expectations, IC design houses focusing on the PC segment including Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT), Ene Technology and Integrated Technology Express (ITE) are pessimistic about the market moving into the fourth quarter. Read more |
|
|
ARM and IBM alliance to collaborate on SoC design for 32nm and 28nm Sep 30, 10:20 IBM, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics and ARM have announced they will develop a comprehensive 32nm Systems-on-a-Chip (SoCs) design platform based on high-k metal-gate (HKMG) technology from the IBM-led joint-development alliance. Read more |
|
|
Semiconductor industry can learn from financial industry melt-down, says Penn Sep 29, 12:02 While July's results in the market showed that the semiconductor market continued the first half year trend of exceeding expectations, the mood in the chip market is all doom and gloom due to the mess in the US financial markets and the demise of major institutions such as Bear Stearns, Lehman Bros and Merrill Lynch, among others, according to Malcolm Penn, Chairman & CEO of Future Horizons. Read more |
|
|
Handset driver IC shipments stable in 3Q08; 4Q outlook unknown Sep 26, 17:09 Handset makers are preparing to launch more models for the second half of the year than in the first half, thanks to recovering demand, but the outlook for shipment volumes is still unclear, according to driver IC supplier Orise Technology. Read more |
|
|
MStar looks to challenge MediaTek in white-box handset baseband chip market Sep 26, 12:09 According to market watchers, Taiwan IC design house MStar has shipped handset baseband chips to China white-box handset customers priced almost 30% lower than MediaTek's chips. In addition, MStar is also planning to introduce multimedia chips recently, which may affect MediaTek's margins in the future. Read more |
|
|
Taiwan IC design houses continue price cuts due to weak order volumes Sep 26, 01:10 Taiwan's IC design industry is heading toward a down cycle. Although MediaTek has almost tripled its third-quarter sales guidance, Pixart Imaging (PXI), Ralink Technology, Elan Microelectronics, Richtek Technology, Ene Technology, Anpec Electronics, Realtek Semiconductor and Novatek Microelectronics, have all announced reduced targets for the third quarter. Read more |
|
|
Synaptics and Elan see Android-related demand potential for touch-screen chip solutions Sep 25, 16:57 According to market watchers, Synaptics has won orders for touch-panel chip solutions for the Android-based T-Mobile G1 handset. Elan Microelectronics is also negotiating with the customer and the company aims to have shipments for other Android handsets in 2008. Read more |
|
|
National Semiconductor introduces tool for developing sensor signal path solutions Sep 24, 16:42 National Semiconductor claims the industry's first sensor signal path design tool that enables engineers to quickly move from concept to simulation to prototyping of common sensor solutions used in medical, industrial and high-end consumer products. Read more |
|
|
IC design houses to see strong sales in 3Q08 thanks to China employment laws Sep 24, 14:14 Thanks to new employment laws in China that empower employees to choose not to work overtime or else receive compensation at a higher rate, OEM/ODM IC orders are being brought forward to September, since makers hope to get the orders done in advance rather than wait for the peak holiday season, according to industry players. Read more |
|
|
More chip integration expected in handset market Sep 22, 12:18 As smartphone functionality is becoming more diverse and comprehensive, chip designers are looking to integrate more functionality into a single chip to minimize power consumption, according to industry players. Read more |
|
|
Memsmart to mass produce MEMS accelerometers by the end of 2008 Sep 18, 16:21 Memsmart Semiconductor, a fabless IC design company, is planning to mass produce the first CMOS-MEMS accelerometers by the end of 2008. Since the CMOS process has the advantage of lower production costs, Memsmart is expected to be able to compete with first-tier makers such as STMicroelectronics, Freescale Semiconductor and Analog Devices (ADI) in the future, according to market watchers. Read more |
|
|
Semiconductor market becoming less forgiving, says iSuppli Sep 18, 10:42 Facing dwindling profits, fewer opportunities to expand by taking market share from competitors and a shrinking roster of star performers, the semiconductor industry has entered a period of lowered expectations and diminishing options, forcing chip suppliers to rethink their basic strategies for success, according to iSuppli. Read more |
|
|
Aptina CMOS image sensor supply may not be able to meet demand from notebook makers Sep 17, 11:24 Due to strong demand for the iPhone 3G, CMOS image sensor supplier Aptina Imaging may not have sufficient products to support notebook makers. The company has asked its 8-inch fab in Italy to move up the production schedule to secure supply for notebook makers, according to market sources. Read more |
|
|
RMI announces solution to extend capabilities of digital photo frames Sep 15, 17:14 RMI, a provider of high performance processors for communication and media, has announced a complete product solution for Home Media Players (HMP), extending new features and capabilities to the digital photo frame market. RMI's turnkey HMP application solution drives advanced product capabilities such as video streaming, wireless connectivity, increased on-demand content, home connectivity and enhancing the overall consumer experience. Read more |
|
|
Broadcast RF power semiconductor market may be twice as big as originally thought Sep 15, 15:46 The global market for RF power semiconductors used in broadcasting is much larger than years of "conventional wisdom" have suggested, according to a new study from ABI Research. Its growth is being driven by the current explosion in digital broadcasting, both television and radio. This market is expected to remain very healthy for the next decade. Read more |
|
|
Moore's Law takes a backend seat; TSV as next battlefield Sep 15, 15:17 While Moore's Law continues to march onward, its pace has slowed. Currently, the semiconductor industry is migrating to 32nm, but the migration to 16nm is not expected to arrive until 2019, meaning that it will take 11-years for the semiconductor industry to advance only two process nodes. Read more |
|
|
MEMS: The next hit for Taiwan's foundries? Sep 15, 14:57 Micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS) are devices incorporating very tiny electronic and mechanical parts into single or multiple chips. MEMS chips are currently found in pressure sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, microphones, digital mirror displays, micro fluidic devices, and others, covering a wide range of applications for manufacturing equipment, automation systems, information and communications sectors, aerospace industry, transportation, construction, environmental protection, agriculture, fishery and so forth. Read more |
|
|
Global Unichip to see sales growth in 3Q08 with increasing advanced process designs Sep 15, 12:05 KC Shih, vice chairman and CEO of Global Unichip, has announced that the company's third-quarter sales will be up from the second quarter, meeting its earlier expectations of progressive seasonal sales growth. Market watchers expect Global Unichip's sales to continue growing in the third and fourth quarters due to previously delayed orders and increasing proportions of advanced process designs. Read more |
|
|
Worldwide TV IC market grows 21% on year in 2Q08, says DisplaySearch Sep 12, 17:12 The worldwide market for TV ICs was 29.8 million units in the second quarter, up 21% on year. Shipments were up 7.8% on quarter, as TV setmakers built in line with seasonality and rapid flat panel TV sales growth in the US and Eastern Europe, according to DisplaySearch. Read more |
|
|
Taiwan and restrictions on China-bound investments Sep 12, 10:29 Since Taiwan's new president took office in May this year, the government has promised to relax various restrictions on its ties and exchanges with China. Taiwan's semiconductor and flat panel industries are now eagerly awaiting changes to the investment rules that have prevented companies from setting up operations involving advanced technologies in China. Read more |
|
|
Economic takes its spot next to technology: Talking techonomics with Synopsys CEO Aart de Geus Sep 12, 10:25 For much of the history of the semiconductor industry, Moore's Law was the industry's driver. Though Moore's law remains a strong and vibrant driver today, it has been joined by economic pressures, namely the cost requirements of continued technology progress. Read more |
|
|
The state of the semiconductor industry: Q&A with SEMI president Stanley Myers Sep 11, 16:42 When looking to divine the direction of the semiconductor industry, it makes sense to turn to SEMI, the global industry association serving companies that provide equipment, materials and services used to manufacture semiconductors devices. Read more |
|
|
China-based Coship to launch PND device with Mobile TV powered by Siano Sep 11, 16:40 Leading Chinese digital TV provider, Coship, has announced the launch of a new member, the CPND-4303A, to its GPS product line, with DVB-T mobile TV capability, powered by Siano's receiver chip. Read more |
|
|
Novatek cuts 3Q sales guidance on stockpiled LCD monitor inventory Sep 8, 15:40 Novatek Microelectronics only expects its third-quarter sales to be flat or grow by a mild 1% on quarter as sales from the majority of its product lines are expected to be flat. Read more |
|
|
MediaTek to ship 20 million handset chips in September Sep 8, 11:50 MediaTek is expected to ship 20 million handset chips in September after shipping a combined total of about 50 million units in July and August, according to estimates by sources at Taiwan IC-design houses. Read more |
|
|
Gateway Silicon and Socle now focusing on 65nm SoC solutions Sep 5, 16:59 Two Taiwan-based IC-design service companies – Gateway Silicon Incorporate (GSI) and Socle Technology – are ready to offer customers IC solutions for SoC designs that are silicon proven on Chartered Semiconductor's 65nm node process, according to the two companies. Read more |
|
|
MediaTek ups 3Q sales growth guidance to 22-25% Stockwatch - Sep 5, 12:02 After reassessing current market demands and customer orders, MediaTek now expects its third quarter revenues to grow 22-25% sequentially, compared with its prior
expectation of 8-10% sequential growth, according to a company filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE). The company also reported consolidated net sales in August of NT$9.5 billion, an increase of 10.12% from NT$8.6 billion in July. Read more |
|
|
|
© DIGITIMES Inc. All rights reserved.
Please do not republish, publicly broadcast or publicly transmit content from this website without written permission from DIGITIMES Inc. Please contact us if you have any questions. |
|
