If Foxconn Electronics bails out Sharp, China-based Nanjing CEC Panda LCD Technology is likely to be at a disadvantage competing for smartphone panel orders from China-based vendors, according to Digitimes Research

Average retail pricing for 7W LED light bulbs (equivalent to 40W incandescent ones) in the China market decreased 5.5% from December 2015 to CNY30.9 (US$4.8) in February, while 9W models (equivalent to 60W incandescent ones) also saw a drop of 3.0% to CNY32.7, according to Digitimes Research

Viewing that Samsung Display and LG Display have started volume production of flexible AMOLED panels for use in smartphones and other mobile devices, China-based panel makers BOE Technology, Kunshan Visionox Display, Guangzhou New Vision Opto-Electronic Technology have also been developing such panels, with Kunshan Visionox planning to begin volume production in first-quarter 2017, according to Digitimes Research

Total handset shipments by Taiwan-based brand vendors and ODMs are expected to decline 13.3% on quarter and 11.4% on year to 15.55 million units in the first quarter of 2016, affected by seasonal factors, according to Digitimes Research

Total handset shipments by Taiwan-based brand vendors and ODMs reached 17.94 million units in the fourth quarter of 2015, decreasing 5.7% on quarter and 29% on year, according to data compiled by Digitimes Research

Japan-based telecom carrier NTT DoCoMo began establishing Uchisuma (smart family) experience zone in its stores and distributors' stores on October 16, 2015, looking to help consumers see the convenience brought by high speed Internet combined with network-supported home appliances. The telecom carrier is pushing cheap prices for the combination of fixed and mobile networks to attract demand from home users, and such a demand is growing to become a potential business opportunity, Digitimes Research's latest report about Japan's smart family market shows

Communication technology using LED diodes and image sensors offers many potential applications, such those for enhancing shopping, entertainment purposes and tourism, according to Digitimes Research

Although mobile broadband Internet-access (3G/4G) subscribers in the India market rapidly increased to 93.15 million in mid-2015, the country faces three main problems in boosting services: huge gaps in deployment of mobile Internet-access networks between rural and urban areas, unhealthy price competition arising from too many mobile telecom carriers, and a lack of long-tern government planning in allocating frequency band units, according to Digitimes Research

In 2016, China's smartphone panel capacity is expected to increase steadily in 2016, as key makers Tianma Micro-electronics and BOE Technology increase capacity and other makers including GVO from Kunshan and Truly Opto-electronics increase the share of smartphone panels they produce, according to a recent Digitimes Research Special Report

The global application processor (AP) market will grow 8.5% in 2016, reaching 1.78 billion units, according to a recent Digitimes Research Special Report. The growth rate in 2016 will surpass the annual growth of 7.9% seen in 2015

With IT products such as smartphone and Internet of Things (IoT) devices being designed with considerations of high performance, low cost, low power consumption and small form factor, IC makers have been pushing 16/14nm processes and developing 10nm processes to satisfy demand. However, as Moore's Law starts slowing the pace of advancement, many IC makers have crossed into the packaging industry to continue to meet demand

With Japan-based Mizuho Bank and Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ Bank having recently crossed into the Financial Technology (FinTech) industry, FinTech has become a new trend. However, Japan's financial organizations are tightly ruled by local policies, and therefore FinTech may see difficulties realizing its full potential. Instead, telecom carriers, which are not regulated as strictly as banks and have advantages in user base and telecommunication technologies, are likely to become the main drivers of FinTech technology