http://www.digitimes.com DIGITIMES English version providing daily news about Asia's IT industry en-us Copyright 2009 DIGITIMES Inc. Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:30:02 GMT 1440 131 62 http://www.digitimes.com/ http://www.digitimes.com/images/NewWLogo.gif Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:12:14 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PB200.html China-based LCD TV vendor TCL Group plans to enter into TFT-LCD panel production to vertically integrate its LCD business, Chinese-language website Sina.com.cn is reporting. The report indicated that TCL is in talks with the Shenzhen government and other optoelectronic players about investing in an 8.5G LCD panel production plant, and the company has reportedly hired a team of engineers of about one hundred from Taiwan-based LCD panel maker Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO).
]]> Displays Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:11:44 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PR204.html Qisda has posted consolidated revenues of NT$6.69 billion (US$206.07 million) for October 2009, decreasing 15% sequentially from NT$7.87 billion in September and down 32.1% on year from NT$9.85 billion. The declines were mainly due to a fall in LCD monitor output Displays Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:10:08 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD210.html Taiwan-based CCFL maker Wellypower Optronics and color filter (CF) maker Sintek Photronic saw their October revenues drop 9.15% and 1.99%, respectively, in October 2009 due to seasonality. Displays Fri, 6 Nov 2009 09:00:01 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PR211.html Initial sales (made between October 18-24, 2009 and including Windows 7 pre-sales) of Microsoft's Windows 7 boxed software surpassed those of Vista's first few days on the US market, according to NPD Group. Systems Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:56:40 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD223.html Driver IC backend supplier Chipbond Technology saw its October revenues decline by 25.2% to NT$468 million (US$13.39 million) as customers have slowed down their pace of orders, according to the company. The company estimated November revenues to remain similar to levels in October. Bits + chips Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:53:21 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PR203.html US LCD TV shipments are expected to amount to eight million units in the fourth quarter of 2009, up 7.3% from 7.5 million during the same period in 2008, according to iSuppli. Displays Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:48:46 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PR209.html 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. Mobos Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:45:36 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PR206.html China's gray-market handset shipments in 2009 are set to grow to 145 million units, or nearly 13% the size of the legitimate global handset business, according to iSuppli. The gray market has become too big and too lucrative for the mobile handset supply chain to ignore anymore. Telecom Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:38:17 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD206.html Wistron has lowered its projected on-quarter notebook shipment growth for the fourth quarter of 2009 from 10% originally to 5%, resulting in projected shipments of 7.2-7.3 million units for the quarter and 25.5 million units for the whole year, lower than its original target of 26 million units, according to industry sources.
]]> Systems Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:35:13 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PR208.html With the DRAM market continuing to experience tight DDR2 supply in the contract market, buyers in the spot market have shifted their attention to DDR3 this week (November 3-6), resulting in a big price jump, according to inSpectrum. Bits + chips Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:34:21 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD216.html Nichidenbo, a distributor of Nippon Chemi-con in Taiwan, has said ASPs of aluminum capacitors will remain stable and are not likely to increase temporarily due to appreciation of the Japanese yen. NDB saw October 2009 revenues decline 12.9% sequentially to NT$176 million (US$5.41 million). Bits + chips Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:13:18 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD202.html Cloud computing and software plus service are two main axes for Microsoft's business vision and technological development in the future, Microsoft corporate vice president and chairman of Microsoft China R&D Group Zhang ya-qin, said in a speech in Taipei on November 5. Systems Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:48:08 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD200.html Lite-On IT has extended production to slim-type ODDs and become the fifth largest maker worldwide with a market share of 15% currently, according to the company.
]]> Systems Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:45:03 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD201.html Solar-grade poly-Si wafer maker Green Energy Technology (GET) has reported revenues of NT$1.003 billion (US$31 million) for October, its second consecutive record month. Bits + chips Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:40:50 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PR207.html The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has revised upward its estimate of global semiconductor sales for 2009 to a 11.6% decline, resetting its previous projection of negative 21.3%. The industry group also gave more positive growth estimates for 2010 and 2011. Bits + chips Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:33:24 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD208.html Asustek Computer has delayed the launch of its Eee Keyboard, which the company originally said would be launched in the US and Europe in October of 2009 because the device has not yet passed wireless regulation testing, according to the company. Systems Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:15:52 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD213.html Demand for PCs and hardware did not turn strong after the launch of Windows 7 in late October and is unlikely to do so in 2009 due to most Windows Vista users not needing to replace their PCs in order to upgrade to Windows 7, while some users are waiting for Microsoft to release Windows 7's first service pack, according to sources at PC vendors. Systems Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:11:26 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD220.html The top-three Taiwan-based telecom carriers Chunghwa Telecom (CHT), Far EasTone Telecommunications (FET) and Taiwan Mobile are all eager to offer e-book services in order to help boost their ARPU (average revenue per user), according to industry sources.
]]> Telecom Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:09:20 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091105PD218.html Leatec Fine Ceramics, a Taiwan-based alumina substrate supplier for chip resistor manufacturers, expects its fourth-quarter 2009 revenues to grow from NT$190 million (US$5.84 million) in the third as demand remains strong. Bits + chips Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:05:20 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091105PD221.html Taiwan-based high-tech equipment and service solutions provider Spirox has expanded its cooperation with Tektronix by adding more of Tektronix' products such as oscilloscopes to its product offerings, and expects revenues generated to account for more than 10% of its total revenues in 2010, according to the company. Bits + chips Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:00:06 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD218.html A-Data Technology has reported revenues of NT$4.365 billion (US$134.21 million) for October 2009, the highest since March 2007. The figures showed revenue growth of 6.9% on month and 96.8% on year, which the memory module house attributed to increased demand from the PC sector and continued strong demand for handset-use microSD cards. Bits + chips Fri, 6 Nov 2009 06:13:04 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD219.html Google's recent release of Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0-platform devices may impact GPS PND vendors such as Garmin and TomTom as well as other handset makers, according to industry sources in Taiwan. Systems Fri, 6 Nov 2009 04:41:20 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD214.html The Taiwan Optoelectronic and Semiconductors Equipment Association (TOSEA) and China-based panel maker BOE Technology signed a letter of intent (LOI) on November 5 in Taipei that will see BOE give priority to equipment sourced from Taiwan for its 8.5G LCD plant. Displays Fri, 6 Nov 2009 04:24:43 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD217.html Nanya Technology on November 5 announced its board of directors has approved plans to raise an estimated NT$16 billion (US$491.94 million) by issuing 800 million new shares. The DRAM maker also said it is planning secure syndicated loans for an additional NT$18 billion later in November.
]]> Bits + chips Fri, 6 Nov 2009 04:07:04 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD215.html 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. Bits + chips Fri, 6 Nov 2009 03:52:37 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD205.html Powerchip Semiconductor (PSC), which mainly supplies effectively tested (eTT) DRAM chips to module customers, has recently landed orders from Taiwan- and US-based system vendors, according to industry sources in Taiwan. With supply in the contract market tightening recently, some PC OEMs are looking to spot market suppliers to meet demand. Bits + chips Fri, 6 Nov 2009 03:52:00 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD204.html Taiwan-based optical lens kit maker Largan Precision has reported unaudited consolidated revenues of NT$913.2 million (US$28 million) for October, hitting a record for the third consecutive month.
]]> Systems Fri, 6 Nov 2009 03:48:07 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PD212.html AU Optronics (AUO) has announced consolidated revenues of NT$39.6 billion (US$1.22 billion) for October 2009, down by 3.4% sequentially from NT$40.98 billion but up 45.3% on year from NT$27.26 billion. Accumulated consolidated revenues from January to October totaled NT$284.07 billion, down 27.4% on year. Displays Fri, 6 Nov 2009 03:43:44 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PR202.html Passive component maker Yageo has reported October revenues of NT$1.86 billion (US$57.26 million), reaching a 5% on-year growth and representing the second high in 2009. Bits + chips Fri, 6 Nov 2009 03:41:41 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PR201.html After engaging in a massive capital spending program during the middle of the decade, the worldwide DRAM industry now has sufficient manufacturing capacity to last through 2012, causing suppliers to cease expenditure on expanding production for the next few years, according to iSuppli. Bits + chips Fri, 6 Nov 2009 02:35:51 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PM200.html Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has filed a company filing with the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) responding to the verdict recently granted in its favor against Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC). Bits + chips Fri, 6 Nov 2009 02:28:29 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091106PR200.html Elpida Memory and ProMOS Technologies announced on November 6 the signing of a DRAM foundry agreement. Bits + chips Thu, 5 Nov 2009 09:08:16 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091104PR201.html 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. Bits + chips Thu, 5 Nov 2009 09:04:48 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091105PR202.html Elpida Memory has announced net sales for the second quarter of its fiscal 2009 (ended September 30, 2009) rose 32.1% sequentially to 95.9 billion yen (US$1.06 billion), with operating income returning to the black. The Japan-based memory producer generated an operating profit of 800 million yen in the July-September quarter, compared to losses of 42.3 billion yen in the prior quarter and a loss of 24.5 billion yen a year ago.
]]> Bits + chips Thu, 5 Nov 2009 08:48:27 GMT http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091105PD217.html 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. Bits + chips