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NEWS & VIEWS |
Taipei,
Sunday, November 8, 2009
12:39 (GMT+8)
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Subject: Bits + chips > IC design |
Nvidia reports growth in fiscal 3Q10 revenues Nov 6, 16:48 Nvidia has reported revenues of US$903.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2010 (ended October 25, 2009), up 16% from the previous quarter and up slightly from US$897.7 million reported in the same period a year earlier. Read more |
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IC design house Richtek may see slight revenue drop in 4Q09 Nov 6, 12:07 Richtek Technology has estimated fourth-quarter 2009 revenues may stay flat or drop slightly to NT$2.2-2.5 billion (US$67.64 million-76.87 million). The company said it is optimistic about its 2010 outlook and expects to see strong growth momentum in the LED driver IC segment. Read more |
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Himax posts nearly 10% revenue growth in 3Q09; expects 15-19% decline in 4Q09 Nov 5, 17:08 Himax Technologies has posted net revenues of US$203.1 million for the third quarter of 2009, representing a 11.7% decrease from US$230.1 million for the third quarter of 2008 and a 9.8% increase from US$184.9 million for the second quarter of 2009. Gross margin was 20.4% for the third quarter of 2009, down 410 basis points on year and down 40 basis points sequentially. The company expects revenues to decline by 15%-19% sequentially due to seasonality. Read more |
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Ralink, Leadtrend and ALi to see revenues climb in October Nov 5, 16:48 Taiwan-based IC design houses, Ralink Technology, Leadtrend Technology and ALi, all expect increased revenues for October although some others may see revenues fall 15-20% sequentially in the fourth quarter due to off-season effects. Read more |
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Infineon, TSMC extend collaboration to 65nm Nov 5, 16:35 Infineon Technologies and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) on November 5 announced that their development and production partnership has been extended to a 65nm embedded flash (eFlash) process technology. Based on the agreement, Infineon and TSMC will jointly develop 65nm process technologies for eFlash microcontrollers (MCUs) for automotive, chip card and security applications. Read more |
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Chipbond and IST 4Q09 revenues to drop 20% on quarter Nov 5, 16:23 Chipbond Technology and International Semiconductor Technology (IST) may see sequential revenue drops of almost 20% in the fourth quarter of 2009, in accordance with driver IC design houses' conservative outlooks for the quarter, according to market watchers. Read more |
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Ralink and Realtek WLAN chip market shares set to increase in 2010 Nov 5, 15:39 Taiwan-based WLAN chipmakers Ralink Technology and Realtek Semiconductor are expected to see their market shares increase in 2010 as a number of Taiwan ODM and OEM notebook makers have decided to add additional chip suppliers to curtail the risk of being caught out by any shortage of WLAN chip supplies, according to industry sources. Read more |
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IC designer GMT positive about 1Q10, says president Nov 4, 16:46 Analog IC design house Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT) expects revenues to decline 15% sequentially to NT$1.08 billion (US$33.13 million) in fourth-quarter 2009 before climbing in first-quarter 2010, company president Jin-chuan Wu has said at an investors conference. Read more |
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ALi, Sunplus developing STB chips for HDTVs Nov 4, 16:46 ALi and Sunplus Technology are stepping up efforts to expand their set-top box (STB) chips for HDTVs, according to industry sources. Both IC designers are expected to see higher gross margins in 2010, on higher shipments of HD STB solutions. Read more |
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Alcor Micro to tap touch panel controller market Nov 4, 15:43 NAND flash controller designer Alcor Micro, plans to introduce capacitive controller chips for touch panels in 2010, according to the company. Read more |
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Faraday, Global Unichip differ on 4Q09 outlook Nov 4, 14:58 Faraday Technology expects fourth-quarter revenues to drop by 10% due to weaker demand for ASICs, while Global Unichip has said its revenues in the fourth quarter will increase slightly on quarter. Read more |
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MEMS chip business struggles with growing pains, says IC Insights Nov 4, 12:06 Annual sales of MEMS-based sensor and actuator devices are expected to nearly double in four years, reaching US$7.3 billion in 2013, according to IC Insights. However, it is erroneous to portray the burgeoning MEMS segment as a utopian market opportunity, the research firm pointed out. Read more |
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China Telecom to procure 50-80 million CDMA handsets in 2010, says VIA Telecom CEO Nov 4, 11:35 China Telecom plans to procure 50-80 million CDMA handsets in 2010, of which 70% will be inexpensive models with average sales prices of 200 yuan (US$29), to meet expected demand from new subscribers mainly in rural areas, according to Ker Zhang, CEO of Taiwan-based 3G IC design house VIA Telecom, which supplies handset solutions to the carrier. Read more |
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Intel CEO promotes Larrabee privately during China visit Nov 3, 16:54 Intel CEO Paul Otellini talked privately with several China-based graphics card makers to promote its Larrabee GPU, which is set to launch in 2010, during a recent visit, according to sources at graphics card makers. Read more |
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Global Unichip announces mass production of ARM7-based GP5080 series SSD SoC solution Nov 3, 16:43 Global Unichip has announced the mass-production of its ARM7-based GP5080 series SSD SoC platform solution, targeting the storage application for the booming market of netbooks/smartbooks, ultra-thin notebooks, UMPCs, MIDs and other portable consumer electronics. Major requirements for this kind of applications are small form factor, low power consumption and durability. All these systems mentioned above are potential clients to access the ubiquitous web applications and this SSD solution is the first product of a series of upcoming cloud computing oriented solutions Global Unichip intended to offer. Read more |
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Sony to use MediaTek controller chips for ultra low-price LCD TVs, say sources Nov 3, 16:07 Sony is reportedly set to use TV controller chips, such as scaler ICs, from Taiwan-based MediaTek for its so-called super entry-level B series ultra low-price LCD TVs, according to market sources. Read more |
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Cando, Pixcir provide touchscreen solution for Acer notebook Nov 3, 15:35 Taiwan-based color filter (CF) maker Cando and China-based TFT-LCD driver IC and capacitive touch controller supplier Pixcir Microelectronics are providing touch panels and touch ICs for a 15.6-inch Acer touchscreen notebook, according to market sources. Read more |
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Alcor Micro becomes sole supplier of card reader, webcam chips for Foxconn, sources say Oct 30, 17:15 IC design house Alcor Micro's card reader and notebook webcam product lines have entered the supply chain of Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry), according to company general manager Chang Chi-Tung. Chang expects to see Alcor Micro's market share of card reader controller chips grow significantly in the OEM market with increases in the number of customers as well as shipment volumes. Read more |
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Sunplus subsidiary HT mMobile to launch 3G handset chips by year-end Oct 30, 16:05 HT mMobile, a subsidiary of Sunplus Technology, will launch 3G handset chips by the end of 2009, according to company chairman Huang Chou-Chye. HT mMobile has formed strategic alliances with a component distributor, a China-based white-box handset maker, and small- to medium-size panel supplier Giantplus Technology, Huang noted. Read more |
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Silicon Motion 3Q09 sales up 14% sequentially with narrower loss Oct 30, 15:22 Silicon Motion Technology, a fabless design house specializing in low-power IC solutions for consumer electronics devices, has announced net sales for the third quarter of 2009 increased 14% on quarter to US$23.1 million. GAAP net loss for the quarter decreased to US$4.7 million or US$0.16 per diluted ADS, compared to a loss of US$6.2 million or US$0.22 per diluted ADS in the second quarter. Read more |
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Driver IC demand from TV, handset sectors remains stable in 4Q09, monitors decline Newswatch - Oct 30, 15:14 Demand for large-size LCD driver ICs is sliding in fourth-quarter 2009 due to decreased orders for monitors, while shipments of TV products remain strong, according to industry sources. The shipment decline of small-size driver ICs is narrower than for large-size products, with more stable demand from the handset segment, the sources noted. Read more |
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Realtek expects 20% revenue drop in 4Q09 Oct 30, 14:31 Realtek Semiconductor has estimated its fourth-quarter revenues will decline 20% to NT$5.1-5.2 billion (US$156.68-159.75 million) as the baseline of the third quarter was high, according to the company. TV and LCD monitor chips will see the biggest drop, followed by networking and PC related products, the company added. Read more |
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MediaTek to volume produce WiMAX chips by year-end 2009 Oct 29, 16:25 MediaTek plans to begin volume producing three WiMAX controller chips at the end of 2009, and expects shipments to grow by 10 times in 2010, according to the company. Read more |
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Beceem expects WiMAX solution shipments to Taiwan to double in 2010 Oct 29, 15:43 WiMAX solution provider Beceem Communications expects its shipments of WiMAX chips to Taiwan to account for 60% of its total WiMAX solution shipments in 2010, compared to 30% in 2009, according to company VP of worldwide sales David Carrol. Read more |
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Holtek expects 10-15% growth in 2010 Oct 28, 16:43 Taiwan IC design house Holtek Semiconductor's fourth-quarter 2009 revenues are expected to be between the levels recorded in the second and third quarters, and revenues in 2010 will see on-year growth of 10-15%, according to company president Gordon Gau. Read more |
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MediaTek declines to comment on reported India WiMAX orders Oct 28, 16:10 MediaTek, in a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) on October 27, cited customer confidentiality as it declined to comment on a Chinese-language Commercial Times report that claims the IC designer has landed orders from India's state-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) for WiMAX chips. Read more |
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OmniVision warns customers to prepare for limited CIS supply Oct 27, 16:02 OmniVision Technologies has notified clients to expect upcoming limited supply of CMOS image sensors (CIS) due to strong iPhone 3GS demand for the end-year holiday season, according to market sources. Tight supply is not expected to ease until late November 2009, the sources pointed out. Read more |
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Nanya reportedly to step into CMOS image sensor production Oct 27, 15:12 DRAM maker Nanya Technology has been in talks with CMOS image sensor (CIS) designers Aptina Imaging, Himax Imaging, Omnivision and Pixart Imaging for the possible release of foundry orders, according to market sources. The memory producer is looking to maximize the utilization of its 8-inch facilities by manufacturing CIS chips. Read more |
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Taiwan MCU makers developing 32-bit products Oct 27, 14:58 Taiwan-based IC design house Holtek Semiconductor plans to launch 32-bit microcontroller units (MCUs) in the fourth quarter of 2010, according to the company. Nuvoton Technology, a subsidiary of Winbond Electronics, has also said it is developing 32-bit products. Read more |
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MIPS licenses processor to Novatek Oct 27, 14:43 MIPS Technologies has announced that Taiwan-based LCD driver IC designer Novatek Microelectronics has licensed the MIPS32 24KEc processor core to power advanced chip designs for a variety of multimedia devices for the digital home. Read more |
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Sonix developing 32-bit multimedia MCU Oct 26, 16:44 Consumer IC design house Sonix Technology has recently licensed ARM's IP for 32-bit microcontroller units (MCU), and expects to roll out new ARM-based products in the second half of 2010, according to the company. Sonix' upcoming 32-bit MCU will target multimedia-enhanced devices. Read more |
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Notebook IC designers expect 10-15% revenue decline in 4Q09 Oct 23, 15:00 Ene Technology, Integrated Technology Express (ITE) and Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT) all estimate their revenues in the fourth quarter of 2009 to see a 10-15% sequential decline as the baseline set by their third-quarter revenues was high and order momentum for notebook related ICs is slowing down despite vendors introducing new products for the launch of Windows 7. Read more |
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IC testing firm Sigurd confirms outsourcing from SMSC Oct 23, 13:58 Taiwan-based IC testing house Sigurd Microelectronics has reached a supply agreement with Standard Microsystems Co (SMSC), a US-based developer of smart mixed-signal connectivity solutions, according to Sigurd chairman Sidney Huang. Under the deal, SMSC will outsource automotive IC testing to Sigurd for car vendors including BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Read more |
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TSMC grabs new orders from China Oct 23, 12:32 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has secured set-top box (STB) IC orders from a subsidiary of China-based home appliance vendor Haier, according to industry sources in China. The foundry is also collaborating with Huawei Technologies and ZTE to tap China's networking chip market, the sources added. Read more |
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MediaTek to launch mobile TV chips in 2010, say sources Oct 22, 14:32 MediaTek will roll out mobile TV solutions supporting the DVB-H and DVB-T standards in 2010, according to market sources. The designer is also considering the possibility of developing chip solutions compliant with China's CMMB mobile TV standard. Read more |
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LSI and Accton announce platform for delivering IPTV and media services over broadband networks Oct 22, 09:49 LSI and Accton Technology have announced the availability of a low-cost hardware and software platform that delivers IPTV and next-generation, media applications over broadband access networks. Read more |
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Taiwan consumer IC designers developing new chips for smart electronic toys Oct 21, 11:40 Taiwan-based IC design houses, including Pixart Imaging, Ralink Technology, Realtek Semiconductor and Sonix Technology, are gearing up to develop new chips for smart electronic toys, according to industry sources. The IC designers have seen orders for ICs used in conventional toys slump since the economic downturn. Read more |
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Mobius Microsystems establishes Taiwan office Oct 21, 10:32 US-based Mobius Microsystems has established a sales office in Taipei, Taiwan. The company also announced the appointment of Alex Tso as director of the Asia Pacific Region to run Mobius' new office. Read more |
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TSMC and UMC utilization rates surging on demand from networking and wireless sectors Oct 20, 17:06 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) have seen a surge in demand for networking and wireless solutions, according to sources at Taiwan-based IC designers. TSMC's 65nm-process capacity has been almost fully utilized, while UMC's average utilization rate at its 8-inch fabs remains at above 90%. Read more |
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Taiwan IC designer Weltrend acquires Windows 7 certification for touchscreen ICs Oct 20, 16:39 Taiwan-based IC design house Weltrend Semiconductor has obtained Windows 7 Logo certification for its two touchscreen ICs used in small- to medium-size products as well as certification for its capacitive multi-touch ICs from Taiwan-based panel makers, with shipments slated for the fourth quarter of 2009 or the first quarter of 2010, according to the company. Read more |
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TSMC acquires MEMS MVD equipment Oct 20, 15:13 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has procured molecular vapor deposition (MVD) equipment developed by US-based Applied MicroStructures (AMST) in order to meet the yield rate of MEMS manufacturing required by Analog Device (ADI), according to market sources. Read more |
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Consumer IC designers expect 4Q09 revenues to slip slightly or remain unchanged Oct 20, 14:44 Taiwan-based consumer IC design houses, including Sonix Technology, Sunplus Technology, ALi and Weltrend Semiconductor, expect revenues for the fourth quarter of 2009 to drop slightly or remain flat on quarter, according to the companies. The fourth quarter is traditionally a slow period, but some clients have pushed back some of their scheduled third-quarter deliveries to the fourth quarter, the companies indicated. Read more |
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2.5 billion Bluetooth low energy chipsets to ship in 2014 Oct 20, 11:21 The first Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) products are already lining up, ahead of a specification ratified by the Bluetooth SIG. According to a recent study from ABI Research, the BLE market will develop in two very separate stages. How well the players in each stage understand the technology and its potential will determine its success. Read more |
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LCD driver IC designers hold rosy 4Q09 outlook Newswatch - Oct 20, 11:11 Major Taiwan-based LCD driver IC design houses are generally optimistic about fourth-quarter prospects mainly because demand from China handset makers remains strong and clients from other countries have begun taking deliveries to meet peak demand prior to the upcoming holiday season, according to industry sources. Shipments in the fourth quarter will only drop within 10% from the third, the sources noted. Read more |
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Taiwan science parks see revenue drops narrower in July and August 2009 Oct 19, 16:22 Taiwan's government-run science parks – Hsinchu Science Park (HSP), Southern Taiwan Science Park (STSP) and Central Taiwan Science Park (CTSP) – continued to see revenues drop on year during January-August 2009, but the negative growth showed some improvement in July and August, according to the National Science Council (NSC). Read more |
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Ene to ship over 10 million notebook keyboard sensors in 2009 Newswatch - Oct 19, 14:40 Taiwan-based IC design house Ene Technology is expected to ship more than 10 million notebook keyboard sensors in 2009, up about nine times from the volume in 2008, according to industry sources. Read more |
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Phison cuts into RIM supply chain, says paper Newswatch - Oct 19, 11:43 NAND flash controller IC designer Phison Electronics is shipping solutions for secure memory cards in small volume, according to a Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) report. Partnering with Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), Phison has entered the supply chain for RIM's BlackBerry smartphones. Read more |
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Sunplus to spin off Sunplus mMedia Oct 16, 16:47 Sunplus Technology plans to transfer the webcam, digital media player, and digital picture frame product lines of its subsidiary Sunplus mMedia to its other two subsidiaries, Sunplus Innovation Technology (SunplusIT) and Generalplus Technology, and will form a new company to take over Sunplus mMedia's digital still camera (DSC) chip business, according to the company. Read more |
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3S lands flash card controller orders from Kingston Oct 16, 14:05 Solid State System (3S) has secured orders for memory card controllers from Kingston Technology, expecting the new orders to be its major growth driver in 2010, according to the company. Read more |
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Ralink, Realtek land more WLAN chip orders from first-tier notebook vendors Oct 16, 12:40 Ralink Technology has received WLAN chip orders for Hewlett-Packard (HP) ultra-thin notebooks and netbooks, while Realtek Semiconductor has secured orders from Asustek Computer and Acer, according to market sources. Both companies will begin shipments in 2010 and are expected to see substantial revenue and profit growth next year, the sources added. Read more |
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Notes and corrections |
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A November 2 report incorrectly stated Transcend Information reported net profits of NT$114 million for the third quarter of 2009. The correct figure is NT$1.14 billion. |
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