This report takes Google's core businesses as a starting point to analyze how Google is competing in the one-cloud, many-screen environment. This is followed by an analysis of the strategic expansion of the Android and Chrome OS platforms, complemented by an exploration of Google's presence in the digital content service business and its goals in operating in this sector. Lastly, the report examines Google's strategic thinking and positioning with regard to the launch of Google-branded smartphones, tablets and notebooks, as well as an overview of key supply chain partners for these products.
During the 12th FYP period, only semiconductor companies established from 2011 are eligible for tax incentives. Moreover, only profitable firms working in areas consistent with government goals will be offered subsidies, with a quota of 40 firms also imposed. These requirements and assessments may encourage IC design startups, while also focusing R&D resources on product and technology sectors the government views as promising. The ultimate impact will probably be to weed out poorly performing firms and expedite the consolidation of the industry.
Three main factors will influence the smartphone industry in 2013: relationships between platform leaders and hardware manufacturers, market demand and carrier support, and the decisions of a number of major players with regard to key transitions or major trends. This Digitimes Research Special Report analyzes how Windows Phone and its supporting telecom carriers are trying to break the dominance of Android and iOs and how individual vendors, such as former giants Nokia and RIM, will tackle the smartphone race.
The global notebook market will continue to face challenges in 2013. Although the launch of Windows 8 is supposed to give a boost to the notebook market, challenges including tablets, as well as notebook makers looking to develop more detachable designs and questions about the health of the global economy, make it unlikely that 2013 will be a better year for notebook shipments than 2012. Digitimes Research expects that global notebook shipments will suffer a further drop in 2013 while facing the specter of strong price pressure.
