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NEWS & VIEWS |
Taipei,
Sunday, September 7, 2008
11:08 (GMT+8)
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Subject: Bits + chips > Design |
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 |
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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 |
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Aptina negotiating with Taiwan wafer fabs and DRAM makers for CMOS image sensor manufacturing Sep 5, 01:00 Aptina, a CMOS image sensor making subsidiary of Micron which was officially spun-off on October 3, is reportedly in negotiations with Taiwan-based wafer fabs and DRAM makers to outsource its CMOS image sensor manufacturing, according to industry sources. Read more |
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Notebook IC design houses expect to see back-end loaded 3Q Sep 4, 11:28 Notebook IC design houses in Taiwan have delivered an optimistic outlook about their sales performance in the third quarter, according to company sources who cited their bookings status. Read more |
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Taiwan IC design houses excited about clone notebook demand from China Sep 4, 01:00 Taiwan IC design houses are excited about the substantial business from clone notebooks in China. With an influx of "white-box" consumer electronics drawing stronger sales in China, recent news about the launch of a 1,999 yuan (US$292) has raised expectations among IC design houses again. Read more |
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Realtek turns conservative; investors pessimistic about share price Newswatch | Sep 3, 11:37 After revealing a more conservative outlook for the third quarter, some equity firms have revised down their earnings forecast for Realtek Technology. Read more |
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Fujitsu and Nanya sign licensing agreement to settle DRAM patent dispute Sep 2, 15:53 Fujitsu Microelectronics and Nanya Technology have announced that they have signed a patent license agreement containing licensing terms with financial arrangements to resolve patent disputes between the companies. Read more |
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MediaTek said to be increasing wafer starts by 50% in September Newswatch | Sep 2, 12:42 A Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) reports that MediaTek has grown its wafer-start amount at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) by 50% on month in September, implying that the design house may start stocking inventory for the fourth quarter. Read more |
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ALi and ITE report margins decline in 2Q08 Aug 29, 17:30 Taiwan IC design houses ALi and Integrated Technology Express (ITE) both reported a decline in margins in the second quarter and 2008 and hold a conservative view for margins in the third quarter. Both companies reported gross margins of 37%, ALi's margin was down eight percentage points while ITE's fell two percentage points. Read more |
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LED driver IC supplier Macroblock sees margins decline in 2Q08 as competition increases Aug 29, 15:52 According to market watchers, more Taiwan IC design players are entering the LED driver IC market causing Macroblock's margins to drop below 40% in the second quarter. Silicon Touch, another major LED driver IC supplier in Taiwan, is also facing pressure from an increasing number of competitors. Read more |
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NAND flash controller IC design houses post mixed results in 1H08 Aug 29, 11:52 Major NAND flash controller IC design houses have posted mixed financial results for the first half of 2008. As prices for of NAND flash keep heading south, fellow controller IC design houses have also seen their sales growth suppressed. Read more |
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Mentor and Global Unichip optimistic about China and India handset markets Aug 28, 15:34 Walden C Rhines, chairman and CEO of Mentor, has commentated that emerging markets in the Asia Pacific, such as China and India, will be the fastest-growing markets for consumer electronics (CE) products. Players in the IC design industry should strive to open channels in those markets, Rhines advised. Meanwhile, Jim Lai, president and COO of Global Unichip emphasized the growing potential of handset markets in China and India. Both Rhines and Lai were speaking at the recent EDA Tech Forum hosted by Mentor in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Read more |
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Taiwan analog IC design houses show margin decline in 2Q due to fierce price competition Aug 28, 12:43 Many Taiwan analog IC design houses reported second-quarter gross margins at below 40% – representing declines from the first quarter – including Richtek Technology, Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT), Advanced Analog Technology (AAT) and Anpec Electronics, due to fierce price competition. Read more |
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Pixart confident to meet sales guidance in 3Q Aug 28, 12:00 Pixart Imaging (PXI) is confident it will meet its guidance of either having sales flat or mild growth sequentially in the third quarter, despite some analysts having warned that the IC design house may have to revise its guidance. Read more |
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LCD panel makers invest in LCD drive IC suppliers to stabilize market position Aug 27, 16:21 As the number of LCD driver IC providers continues to decline due to low profitability, TFT-LCD makers are finding it increasingly important to forge close ties with the remaining industry players in order to maintain stable upstream supplies of LCD driver ICs. Read more |
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PC related IC design houses turn conservative over 3Q outlook on falling demand from motherboards Aug 27, 14:48 PC related IC design houses Realtek Semiconductor, Anpec Electronics and Integrated Technology Express (ITE) have all reduced their sales growth targets for the third quarter because demand from motherboards in August has not been as strong as expected. Market watchers expect Richtek Technology will also reduce its third-quarter sales target. Read more |
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Sensors take growth baton in the MEMS market Aug 27, 12:57 Driven by new demand from consumer electronics and wireless applications, the global market for Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) will expand to US$8.8 billion in 2012, up from US$6.1 billion in 2006, iSuppli predicts. Read more |
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IC distributors turn conservative for September as China white-box handset clients cut orders Aug 27, 01:25 IC distributors are turning conservative about China's white-box handset market, as clients are cutting orders amid weaker-than-expected demand, according to industry sources. Read more |
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HP and Dell notebook demand to benefit GTM, ITE and Ene in 3Q08 Aug 26, 15:30 Taiwan-based notebook related IC design houses Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT), Integrated Technology Express (ITE), and Ene Technology are expected to see stronger sales growth in the third quarter as Hewlett-Packard (HP) has increased its sales growth target and Dell has announced new ultra-portable notebooks, according to market watchers. Read more |
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Skymedi profit surges in 1H08 on solid ties with Samsung Aug 26, 11:03 Thanks to a big volume of memory card orders from one of its major investors, Samsung Electronics, Skymedi reported that its profit surged by more than five fold on year in the first half of 2008. Read more |
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Broadcom to acquire digital TV business from AMD Aug 26, 10:58 Broadcom and AMD announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement for Broadcom to acquire AMD's digital TV (DTV) business. Read more |
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White-box handsets popular during Olympics; MediaTek expected to see higher sales growth in August and 3Q08 Aug 25, 12:02 The China government's crackdown on unlicensed handsets prior to the Olympics had an influence on sales for white-box handset makers as well as chipset provider MediaTek. However, during the games white-box handsets have became more popular among consumers wanting to watch events while mobile, prompting IC distributors to predict MediaTek should be able to adjust its sales growth target to 15% in the third quarter. Read more |
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ALi revenues expected to increase about 30% in 3Q; margins to decline Aug 25, 11:08 Because some China customers moved some of their August orders ahead to July to take advantage of Olympic demand, Set top box chip designer ALi expects its August sales to be about NT$300 million, while remaining flat with July, and the sales will not recover until September. However, sales in the third quarter are expected to be over NT$300-350 million, up 30% from the second quarter, the company added. Read more |
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Small- to medium-size LCD panel demand rebounds, record 3Q revenues expected for driver IC players Orise and Sitronix Aug 22, 16:30 With demand for small- to medium-size LCD panels rebounding recently, LCD driver IC suppliers Orise Technology and Sitronix Technology, which specialize in the small-size panel segments, are benefiting from the recovery. However, Taiwan companies are watching out for Samsung Electronics in the small-size panel segment, as the chip giant is also eyeing the market for small-size driver ICs, according to IC distributors. Read more |
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SSD in new Eee PC to support SATA interface Aug 22, 16:10 Asustek Computer is said to be bringing a true solid-state disk (SSD) drive to its Eee PC lineup as the company will use an SSD that supports a serial ATA interface and SLC NAND, according to industry sources. JMicron Technology and Samsung Electronics have been identified as the respective controller IC and single-level cell (SLC) NAND chip suppliers, the sources noted. Read more |
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Intel CTO says gap between humans and machines will close by 2050 Aug 22, 10:35 Justin Rattner, Intel's chief technology officer during his keynote today at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco, predicted big changes are ahead in social interactions, robotics and improvements in computer's ability to sense the real world. He said Intel's research labs are already looking at human-machine interfaces and examining future implications to computing with some promising changes coming much sooner than expected. Read more |
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CE related IC design houses vary on 3Q sales expectations Aug 21, 16:10 Sales for consumers electronics (CE) products are expected to see an on-year sales decline in the third quarter this year due to global inflation and high oil prices, affecting the sales of related IC design houses such as Elan Microelectronics, Holtek Semiconductor and Sunplus Technology. However, a few companies, such as Sonix Technology and ALi, are still confident about their respective performances this quarter. Read more |
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Taiwan IC design houses expect record sales in August Aug 21, 11:47 Despites global economic worries, August sales for some Taiwan IC design houses are expected to hit a record, with companies including Richtek Technology, Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT), Anpec Electronics, Orise Technology, Sitronix Technology, Ralink Technology and Global Unichip seeing strong sales, according to market sources. Read more |
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Ericsson and STMicroelectronics to merge EMP and ST-NXP Wireless Aug 21, 11:35 Ericsson and STMicroelectronics announced an agreement to merge Ericsson Mobile Platforms and ST-NXP Wireless into a joint venture (JV). The 50-50 joint venture is expected to have the industry's strongest product offering in semiconductors and platforms for mobile applications and will be an important supplier to Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG and Sharp. The fabless JV will employ almost 8,000 people with pro-forma 2007 sales of US$3.6 billion. ST is expected to exercise its option to buy NXP's 20% of ST-NXP Wireless before the closing of this transaction. Read more |
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LCD driver IC design houses feeling the pain of panel makers Aug 20, 11:28 Taiwan TFT-LCD panel makers believe falling price for panels will be end by the end of August. However, the panel makers are looking to reduce average prices on their components, placing pressure on Taiwan LCD driver IC suppliers, which are seeing disappointing order visibility, casting a shadow on their sales growth and margin expectations for analog IC design houses this quarter, according to market watchers. Read more |
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Phison: NAND flash industry trough may last another quarter Aug 20, 11:21 High inventory of NAND flash among leading NAND flash players has led to a series of price cuts from August but demand is still expected to be suppressed through the entire third quarter, said Khein-Seng Pau, general manager of Phison Electronics. Amid an unclear outlook, he said the present industry trough may last at least for another quarter. Read more |
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Micron memory card partners settled Aug 19, 11:59 Micron Technology has made further progress on its memory card deployment by settling controller IC and backend production partners. Industry sources noted that InComm and Siliconware Precision Industries Ltd. (SPIL) are the respective partners for Micron, and a secondary controller IC house may likely be added in the future. Read more |
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Netbook popularity may be boon for Qualcomm Aug 19, 01:00 While the popularity of the Eee PC from Asustek Computer may help drive the netbook market and benefit PC processor players such as Intel and VIA Technologies, the new found market acceptance for mini-notebook devices may also be boon for mobile handset chip provider Qualcomm and its Snapdragon processor. Read more |
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Handset makers said to be expecting double-digit growth in 4Q Aug 18, 16:35 Global handset demand has recovered recently, and with international handset vendors looking to makers to increase their inventory levels by 10-20% for the fourth quarter, handset shipment growth is expected to have related double-digit sequential growth in the fourth quarter, according to market watchers. Read more |
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Global Unichip has 32nm designs in development Aug 18, 16:02 Global Unichip has said demand for leading-edge designs such as 90nm and 65nm will continue to grow, while development for 40nm and 32nm is underway. The company expects progressive sales growth in 2008, according to company executives during a recent investors conference. Read more |
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Taiwan's three science parks turned out total revenues of over NT$1 trillion in 1H08 Aug 18, 14:13 The three science parks in Taiwan, Hsinchu (HSP), Southern (STSP) and Central (CTSP), generated total revenues of NT$1.022 trillion (US$32.57 billion) during the first half of 2008, according to statistics released by the National Science Council (NSC). Read more |
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Record PC processor shipments in 2Q, says IDC Aug 15, 17:35 Worldwide PC microprocessor shipments in the second quarter of 2008 reached record levels again, according to new data from IDC. Despite the fact that the second quarter is typically the slowest quarter of the calendar year for processor demand and concerns that the economic woes in the US are spreading to other regions, worldwide processor unit shipments grew 3.1% on quarter and 16.1% on year. Strong vendor price competition in the middle and low end of the desktop PC processor and mobile PC processor market segments caused overall market revenues to decline 4.5% on quarter to US$7.7 billion. Read more |
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Yang An to reduce capital by 35% Aug 15, 16:53 After announcing it would be quitting the flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) last week, Yang An Electronics announced on August 13 that it was reducing its capital by about 35%, according to a filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE). Read more |
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Taiwan notebook OEMs to increase in-house CMOS image sensor investment Aug 15, 16:04 Driven by attempts to enhance competitiveness, leading notebook OEMs in Taiwan, including Quanta Computer, are said to be growing their in-house CMOS image sensor development, according to sources at CMOS image sensor vendors. Read more |
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Taiwan IC design houses moving into the 3Q peak season Aug 15, 15:37 Taiwan IC design companies Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT) and Ene Technology both expect their sales in the third quarter to show 15-20% sequential growth, as notebook customers and OEMs begin building their inventory levels in preparation of the hot season. In addition, sales of other PC related ICs, as well as IC sales for white-box handset and consumers electronics (CE) applications are expected to help drive sales higher. Read more |
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Rambus to cut workforce Aug 15, 10:31 Rambus has announced a restructuring of the company and will reduce its workforce by approximately 90 positions. The company will take a restructuring charge, on a cash basis, of approximately US$4 million in the next two quarters, primarily related to severance expenses. With this restructuring and related cost saving measures, Rambus expects cash savings of approximately US$17 million annually, principally due to reduced compensation related expenses. Read more |
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KCUC July revenues jump 27% on handset demand in China Aug 14, 12:25 Due to growing demand for white-box handset in China, Taiwan IC distributor Kuen Chaang Uppertech (KCUC) saw its July revenues jump 27% sequentially. Read more |
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WPG Americas enters distribution agreement with Avago Technologies Aug 13, 16:58 WPG Americas today announced it has entered into a new distribution agreement with Avago Technologies. Under the terms of the agreement, WPG Americas will distribute Avago Technologies broad range of optoelectronics and analog interface components throughout the Americas. Read more |
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ALi sales up 25% in July Aug 13, 12:29 Taiwan IC design house ALi reported July revenues of NT$308 million (US$9.88 million), up 25% from June and its highest total for 2008. The market holds an optimistic view on ALi's performance for the peak season, though the company indicated its sales will not have significant growth until September. Read more |
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Elan not expecting significant touch panel IC sales until 4Q Aug 12, 16:55 Due to weak demand for consumers electronics (CE) products and delayed shipments of touch panel ICs and modules, Taiwan IC design house Elan Microelectronics expects its sales to decline in August, stay flat in September and recover in the fourth quarter. Read more |
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Hsinchu Science Park reports 1H08 production value of US$18.0 billion Aug 12, 12:19 Hsinchu Science Park, the largest of three government-developed science parks in Taiwan, recorded a total production value of NT$553.379 billion (US$18.0 billion) during the first half of 2008, according to the administration. Read more |
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Weak LCD demand to constrain growth at related Taiwan IC design houses Aug 11, 16:31 Due to weak demand for TFT LCD panels and consumers electronics (CE) products, Taiwan IC design house Advanced Analog Technology (AAT) may see its sales decline this quarter, while Novatek Microelectronics, Pixart Imaging (PXI) and Sunplus Technology expect to see slow sales for the third quarter as well. Read more |
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Taiwan IC distributors expect stronger 3Q sales amid strong iPhone 3G demand Aug 11, 14:48 With shipments of the Apple iPhone 3G performing better than the market expectations, components for the iPhone 3G may start running short, according to IC distributors. Read more |
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Kingston takes 10% stake at NAND flash controller designer 3S Aug 11, 11:03 NAND flash controller design house Solid State System (3S) announced that Kingston Technology has taken a 10% stake in the company via a private placement as expected. By forging the investment ties, 3S anticipates that the synergy will help strengthen its position in the NAND flash supply chain. Read more |
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RF power semiconductor device market to be slowed by wireless infrastructure slide, says ABI Research Aug 11, 10:46 With the gradual decline of cellular/3G base station deployments, the market for RF power semiconductor devices will continue to see the erosion in revenues for that segment that has characterized recent years. Read more |
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