Wi-SUN (wireless smart utility network), the Japan-developed wireless communication technology used in management of connected home appliances, has been popularly in the Japan market due to low power consumption, long-distance communications and high physical penetrability. But there are problems internationalizing Wi-SUN, according to Digitimes Research

Shipments of smartphones by Taiwan-based handset brands and ODMs are expected to reach 12.6 million units in the second quarter of 2016, down 9.7% sequentially and 42.9% on year, Digitimes Research has estimated

Combined revenues of Korea's major LCD driver IC vendors reached a record high of KRW419.4 billion (US$353.97 million) in 2015, with Silicon Works, a subsidiary of LG Electronics, accounting for 96% of total revenues, according to data compiled by Digitimes Research

Combined revenues of Taiwan's major foundries: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), United Microelectronics (UMC) and Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) are forecast to reach US$8.02 billion in the second quarter of 2016, up 8.4% on quarter but down 0.9% on year, according to Digitimes Research

Having digested their excessive inventory, smartphone vendors have stepped up the pace of placing chip orders in the second quarter of 2016, according to Digitimes Research. Smartphone vendors are also gearing up for the upcoming roll-outs of their new models

Taiwan-based TFT-LCD panel makers AU Optronics (AUO), Innolux, Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT) and HannStar Display will together ship 52.647 million large-size (above 9-inch) panels in the second quarter of 2016, increasing 6.5% on quarter but decreasing 9.1% on year and accounting for 32.9% of global total, according to Digitimes Research

The production value of Taiwan's IC design industry is expected to increase 7.4% on year to NT$570.75 billion (US$17.4 billion) in 2016, according to Digitimes Research

China-based display panel makers BOE Technology, China Star Optoelectronics Technology and Tianma Micro-electronics, at the China Information Technology Expo (CITE) 2016 in Shenzhen, southern China, during April 8-10, focused on their 6G LTPS production lines which will come into operation soon, according to Digitimes Research

April 2016 average retail price for 7W LED light bulbs (equivalent to 40W incandescent ones) in the China market increased 4.9% on month to CNY27.9 (US$4.30), while that for 9W models (equivalent to 60W incandescent ones) decreased 2.3% to CNY29.2, according to Digitimes Research

Sharp has published financial report for fiscal year 2015 (April 2015-March 2016), recording consolidated revenues of JPY2,461.5 billion (US$22.6 billion), net operating loss of JPY161.9 billion and net loss of JPY255.9 billion, and Sharp's future transformation to improve business operations hinges on synergy arising from Taiwan-based Foxconn Electronics' stake investment of JPY388.812 billion for a 66.00% stake, according to Digitimes Research

Global tablet shipments are expected to drop 4.6% sequentially to reach 42.84 million units in the second quarter, which is still the slow season for the table market. Vendors have yet to step up their orders for the new products they are supposed to launch in the third quarter. However, the shipment volume for th esecond quarter will drop only 7.9% on year, an improvement from the previous quarters' over 10% drops

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will both lower their total capex for memory ICs in 2016, according to Digitimes Research. During the year, both companies will focus on migrating to 18nm process technology for the manufacture of DRAM chips and ramping up their 3D NAND flash capacities