 |
NEWS & VIEWS |
Taipei,
Sunday, November 22, 2009
12:12 (GMT+8)
|
|
|
|
IC distributor Supreme enjoying outstanding performance in 4Q09 Nov 20, 17:00 Supreme Electronics has estimated its consolidated revenues will top NT$3 billion (US$92.68 million) in November and hit a 2009 year-high in the fourth quarter driven by demand for memory products. The company expects a bright outlook for memory products in the first quarter of 2010. Read more |
|
|
IC design houses see influx of short lead-time orders from China Nov 20, 14:44 Taiwan-based IC designers are seeing increased short lead-time orders for December 2009 from China, as OEMs and vendors place orders to avoid shipping delays due to uncertain weather, according to industry sources. North China is currently experiencing a blizzard which has caused traffic chaos. Read more |
|
|
|
|
|
China-based touch controller supplier Pixcir expands cooperation with Taiwan-based touch panel suppliers Nov 19, 16:07 China-based TFT-LCD driver IC and capacitive touch controller supplier Pixcir Microelectronics has recently expanded its cooperation with Taiwan-based touch panel suppliers including Cando and Sintek Photronic, and completed testing for 5- to 17.3-inch touchscreen modules, according to market sources. Read more |
|
|
IC distributor Yosun to set up more offices in China Nov 19, 15:57 Taiwan-based IC distributor Yosun Industrial plans to invest an additional NT$120 million (US$3.73 million) to set up more branch offices in second- and third-class cities in China and expects revenues generated from the China market to increase at least 50% in 2010. Read more |
|
|
One too many LCD driver IC backend service providers in Taiwan, says Chipbond Nov 19, 14:22 Taiwan-based Chipbond Technology has commented that reducing the number of the local LCD driver IC packaging and testing houses to three through acquisitions or mergers will help the industry grow healthily. Chipbond is open to such cooperation with fellow makers, according to an unspecified executive at the company. Read more |
|
|
Princeton launches USB/SD host audio decoder IC Nov 18, 16:38 Taiwan-based IC designer Princeton Technology (PTC) has introduced the PT8921, cost-efficient single-chip solution for audio mini-combo player applications. The chip integrates a USB 2.0 FS host controller, SD/MMC host controller, sigma-delta audio-DAC and WAV/MP3/WMA/AAC audio-decoder. Few external components are needed, making the PT8921 well-suited for audio systems with USB 2.0 FS host, SD/MMC host, or iPod certified-IC control interfaces, according to the company. Read more |
|
|
Spirox sees no risk of overspending by foundries and IC backend suppliers in 2010 Nov 18, 16:36 Taiwan-based Spirox, which provides integrated solutions from IC design through manufacturing for the semiconductor and TFT LCD high-tech industries, has commented that there will be no risk of overspending by the local wafer foundries and IC packaging and testing firms in 2010. Read more |
|
|
Taiwan IC production value to shrink 8% in 2009, says TSIA Nov 18, 13:32 Taiwan's IC production value is estimated to reach NT$1.2238 trillion (US$38.43 billion) in 2009, down 8.1% on year, according to the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA). Overall IC production grew 23.2% sequentially to NT$368.8 billion in the third quarter, with the manufacturing (including foundry) sector up 25.6%. Read more |
|
|
Innolux-CMO acquisition brings no impact on Himax, says the IC designer Nov 16, 14:55 The acquisition of Innolux Display and Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) will not impact Himax Technologies, a subsidiary of CMO, according to the LCD driver IC design house. Himax expects to see a positive effect from the merger since both panel makers are Himax' major customers. Read more |
|
|
Elan expects touchscreen IC shipments to grow significantly in 4Q09 Nov 13, 12:40 Elan Microelectronics expects to ship 500,000-600,000 touchscreen ICs used in handsets in the fourth quarter, about three times the volume it shipped in the third quarter. However, the company estimates its fourth-quarter revenues will drop 8-16% to NT$1.1-1.2 billion (US$34.02-37.11 million) due to lower demand in the microcontroller unit (MCU) market. Read more |
|
|
Memory IC backend firm Walton positive about 4Q09 Nov 13, 12:13 Walton Advanced Engineering has revised its fourth-quarter revenue guidance to sequential growth, compared to flat revenues that it initially estimated. The memory IC packaging and testing house also forecast revenues for the first quarter of 2010 to hold level, and average monthly revenues next year to top NT$550 million (US$17 million). Read more |
|
|
Niche memory IC orders and ASP recovered, says Etron chairman Nov 12, 16:20 The niche memory IC market has bottomed out with improving order volume as well as average selling prices (ASPs), said Etron Technology chairman Nicky Lu. Read more |
|
|
ChipMOS expects 4Q09 revenues to stay flat or drop slightly on quarter Nov 12, 12:17 Packaging and testing house ChipMOS Technologies has said revenues for the fourth quarter of 2009 may remain flat or drop by single-digits compared to the third quarter. Demand for LCD driver IC services looks weaker during the quarter, though services for DRAM and mixed-signal ICs stay strong, according to the company. Read more |
|
|
Notebook related IC designers see 20% decline in October; expect rebound in December Nov 11, 15:37 Notebook related IC design houses saw sequential revenue declines of around 20% in October 2009 due to fewer working days. However, they expect revenues to rebound slightly in December and may see sequential growth in the first quarter of 2010. Read more |
|
|
Major IC distributors see revenues drop in October Nov 11, 12:01 WPG Holdings has reported consolidated revenues of NT$17.57 billion (US$543 million) for October 2009, down around 5% sequentially, while rivals Yosun and WT Microelectronics saw consolidated revenues decrease 12% and 18%, respectively, mainly because customers had stocked up ahead in September for the national holiday in China. Read more |
|
|
IC testing firms KYEC and Sigurd see revenues up slightly in October Nov 10, 14:05 King Yuan Electronics Company (KYEC) and Sigurd Microelectronics both saw their October revenues reach the highest monthly levels for 2009. Both IC testing houses said demand from the PC and handset sectors have not shown contraction despite the arrival of the traditional low season. They estimate revenues for November to remain flat over the previous month. Read more |
|
|
Sunplus, ALi post high revenues in October among consumer IC designers Nov 9, 17:05 IC design houses Sunplus Technology and ALi have both reported high revenues for October 2009 thanks to strong set-top box (STB) IC demand in Europe and emerging markets. Read more |
|
|
Top-20 chip suppliers 3Q09 revenues up 19% sequentially, says IC Insights Nov 9, 11:35 Global top-20 semiconductor companies, in total, registered a sales growth of 19% sequentially in the third quarter of 2009, according to IC Insights. This followed an on-quarter 19% increase in the second quarter. Read more |
|
|
Driver IC backend supplier revenues down in October 2009 Nov 6, 16:56 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. Read more |
|
|
IC design house Richtek may see slight revenue drop in 4Q09 Nov 6, 12:07 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. Read more |
|
|
IC designer GMT positive about 1Q10, says president Nov 4, 16:46 Analog IC design house Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT) expects revenues to decline 15% sequentially to NT$1.08 billion (US$33.13 million) in fourth-quarter 2009 before climbing in first-quarter 2010, company president Jin-chuan Wu has said at an investors conference. Read more |
|
|
Specialty IC foundry VIS conservative about 4Q09 Nov 4, 12:17 Analog/mixed-signal and logic IC specialist Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) has estimated wafer shipments to decrease by around 30% sequentially in the fourth quarter on a 50% utilization rate. The foundry saw third-quarter revenues grow 27% on quarter to NT$4.34 billion (US$133 million), and shipments increase 25% to 284,000 wafers, according to the company. Read more |
|
|
MEMS chip business struggles with growing pains, says IC Insights Nov 4, 12:06 Annual sales of MEMS-based sensor and actuator devices are expected to nearly double in four years, reaching US$7.3 billion in 2013, according to IC Insights. However, it is erroneous to portray the burgeoning MEMS segment as a utopian market opportunity, the research firm pointed out. Read more |
|
|
Sony to use MediaTek controller chips for ultra low-price LCD TVs, say sources Nov 3, 16:07 Sony is reportedly set to use TV controller chips, such as scaler ICs, from Taiwan-based MediaTek for its so-called super entry-level B series ultra low-price LCD TVs, according to market sources. Read more |
|
|
Driver IC demand from TV, handset sectors remains stable in 4Q09, monitors decline Newswatch - Oct 30, 15:14 Demand for large-size LCD driver ICs is sliding in fourth-quarter 2009 due to decreased orders for monitors, while shipments of TV products remain strong, according to industry sources. The shipment decline of small-size driver ICs is narrower than for large-size products, with more stable demand from the handset segment, the sources noted. Read more |
|
|
IC distributors WPG and Yosun see strong 3Q09 profits Newswatch - Oct 26, 14:57 WPG Holdings is expected to report a pre-tax EPS (earnings per share) of NT$1.50 (US$0.05) for the third quarter of 2009, similar to the NT$1.55 for the January-June period, according to market watchers. Meanwhile, rival Yosun Industrial has posted an EPS of NT$1.38 before tax for the third quarter, compared to NT$0.73 in the second. Read more |
|
|
Testing equipment supplier Chroma Ate to generate more sales from electric car market Oct 26, 14:26 Taiwan-based testing and measurement instrument maker Chroma Ate is expected to see orders from Tesla Motors generate NT$1.5 billion (US$46 million) in 2010, according to market watchers. Revenues from the electric-car maker are estimated at NT$330 million in 2009. Read more |
|
|
Notebook IC designers expect 10-15% revenue decline in 4Q09 Oct 23, 15:00 Ene Technology, Integrated Technology Express (ITE) and Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT) all estimate their revenues in the fourth quarter of 2009 to see a 10-15% sequential decline as the baseline set by their third-quarter revenues was high and order momentum for notebook related ICs is slowing down despite vendors introducing new products for the launch of Windows 7. Read more |
|
|
IC testing firm Sigurd confirms outsourcing from SMSC Oct 23, 13:58 Taiwan-based IC testing house Sigurd Microelectronics has reached a supply agreement with Standard Microsystems Co (SMSC), a US-based developer of smart mixed-signal connectivity solutions, according to Sigurd chairman Sidney Huang. Under the deal, SMSC will outsource automotive IC testing to Sigurd for car vendors including BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Read more |
|
|
IC distributor Zenitron expects memory cards to sustain growth for 4Q09 Oct 21, 14:58 Taiwan-based Zenitron, a major distributor for SanDisk NAND flash products, expects revenues from memory cards used in handsets and digital still cameras (DSCs) to drive growth for the fourth quarter of 2009, according to company CEO Jason Chen. Read more |
|
|
Taiwan consumer IC designers developing new chips for smart electronic toys Oct 21, 11:40 Taiwan-based IC design houses, including Pixart Imaging, Ralink Technology, Realtek Semiconductor and Sonix Technology, are gearing up to develop new chips for smart electronic toys, according to industry sources. The IC designers have seen orders for ICs used in conventional toys slump since the economic downturn. Read more |
|
|
Taiwan IC designer Weltrend acquires Windows 7 certification for touchscreen ICs Oct 20, 16:39 Taiwan-based IC design house Weltrend Semiconductor has obtained Windows 7 Logo certification for its two touchscreen ICs used in small- to medium-size products as well as certification for its capacitive multi-touch ICs from Taiwan-based panel makers, with shipments slated for the fourth quarter of 2009 or the first quarter of 2010, according to the company. Read more |
|
|
Consumer IC designers expect 4Q09 revenues to slip slightly or remain unchanged Oct 20, 14:44 Taiwan-based consumer IC design houses, including Sonix Technology, Sunplus Technology, ALi and Weltrend Semiconductor, expect revenues for the fourth quarter of 2009 to drop slightly or remain flat on quarter, according to the companies. The fourth quarter is traditionally a slow period, but some clients have pushed back some of their scheduled third-quarter deliveries to the fourth quarter, the companies indicated. Read more |
|
|
LCD driver IC designers hold rosy 4Q09 outlook Newswatch - Oct 20, 11:11 Major Taiwan-based LCD driver IC design houses are generally optimistic about fourth-quarter prospects mainly because demand from China handset makers remains strong and clients from other countries have begun taking deliveries to meet peak demand prior to the upcoming holiday season, according to industry sources. Shipments in the fourth quarter will only drop within 10% from the third, the sources noted. Read more |
|
|
Memory IC distributors see strong 3Q09 profits Oct 19, 16:24 Taiwan-based memory IC distributors Supreme Electronics, Coasia Microelectronics and Techmosa International all saw profits grow significantly in the third quarter due to seasonal demand and healthy product prices, according to market sources. Read more |
|
|
IC distributor Chander stops selling Cypress products Newswatch - Oct 16, 16:51 Taiwan-based IC distributor Chander Electronics has ended its relationship with Cypress, while it will begin distributing Motorola's products soon, according to the company. Chander expects its revenues to hold level in October 2009, and monthly revenues will remain around NT$100 million (US$3.1 million) in the fourth quarter. Read more |
|
|
Applied Materials, ITRI team up for 3D chip stack technology Oct 15, 16:53 Applied Materials has announced its collaboration with the Taiwan government-backed Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to accelerate the development and commercialization of 3D chip stacking technology. Applied will support ITRI and the members of ITRI-led Ad-STAC, with a full line of processing systems for fabricating through-silicon vias (TSVs). Read more |
|
|
IC distributors expected to see high sales in October thanks to increased Sony PS3 component orders Newswatch - Oct 15, 16:25 Taiwan-based IC distributors are expected to see their revenues remain high in October 2009 thanks to strong orders for Sony PlayStation 3 related products, according to industry sources. Read more |
|
|
IC design houses look to strong sales in 4Q09 Newswatch - Oct 15, 15:52 Most Taiwan-based IC design houses expect the decline of their fourth-quarter revenues to narrow thanks to strong sales of desktops and notebooks during China's national holidays in October, as well as a better-than-expected demand in the fourth quarter as recently forecast by Intel, according to industry sources. Read more |
|
|
Quanta invests in US-based Tilera, Japan-based chassis maker in China Oct 14, 16:38 Quanta Computer on October 12 announced the investment of US$10 million in Tilera Corporation, a US-based multicore processors company for general purpose computing in cloud, wireless, networking and digital multimedia applications. The company also invested US$7.89 million in Kenseisha Shanghai PMP, a maker of PC chassis and components established in eastern China by Japan-based Kenseisha, taking a 43.83% stake. Read more |
|
|
GMT lands LED driver IC orders from TV vendors Oct 14, 12:13 IC designer Global Mixed-mode Technology (GMT) has recently completed several driver IC design-ins for LED-backlit LCD TVs developed by China- and Taiwan-based downstream vendors, with mass shipments slated for the first quarter of 2010, according to industry sources. Read more |
|
|
IC testing house Sigurd to see strong 4Q09 Newswatch - Oct 14, 11:50 Sigurd Microelectronics is expected to see revenues for the fourth quarter of 2009 remain similar to levels in the third, thanks to a pick-up in demand from the memory sector and new testing orders for logic ICs, according to market watchers. Read more |
|
|
Taiwan-based driver IC design houses expect healthy revenues in 4Q09 Oct 13, 15:29 Taiwan-based LCD driver IC design houses expect to see a limited revenue decline in October and healthy revenue performance in the fourth quarter, as orders from China handset makers are staying strong due to both local demand and booming exports. Read more |
|
|
IC designer AAT expected to benefit from AUO, PVI e-book reader, e-paper shipments Oct 13, 15:02 Analog IC design house Advanced Analog Technology (AAT) has completed design-in of power management (PWM) ICs for e-book readers and e-paper displays developed by AU Optronics (AUO) and Prime View International (PVI), with volume shipments of such ICs slated for the fourth quarter of 2009, according to industry sources. Read more |
|
|
Foundry sales to increase nearly twice as fast as total IC industry, says IC Insights Oct 13, 14:55 Foundry IC sales will grow at nearly twice the rate of the overall IC industry over the next five years, according to IC Insights, adding that both pure-play and IDM foundry sales are likely to show solid growth through 2013. Read more |
|
|
Unimicron sees capacity utilization at 90-95% on demand for CE PCBs and IC substrates Oct 13, 14:22 Taiwan-based PCB maker Unimicron Technology has seen its overall capacity utilization rise to 90-95% mainly due to booming sales of PCBs used in consumer electronics and IC substrates. Market watchers expect revenues will peak in November, and its fourth-quarter revenue decline to be less than 5%. Read more |
|
|
IC distributors post high sales in September Oct 12, 16:58 Taiwan-based IC distributors WPG Holdings, Yosun Industrial and Zenitron all have posted high revenues for September due to seasonality. Read more |
|
|
Consumer IC designers see strong revenue growth in 3Q09 Oct 12, 15:53 ALi and Sunplus Technology saw revenues in the third quarter increase 20-30% sequentially driven by strong set-top box (STB) IC demand, while microcontroller unit (MCU) makers Weltrend Semiconductor and Holtek Semiconductor both saw an about 30% increase in their third-quarter revenues. Read more |
|
|
Networking IC designers to have strong 4Q09 Oct 12, 11:52 Taiwan-based networking IC design houses are optimistic about their fourth-quarter performance prospects as demand from China and other emerging markets remains strong, while customers in developed countries are upgrading their networking products. Read more |
|
|
IC distributor Yosun targeted for acquisition by leading channel players Oct 12, 11:02 Three leading IC and IT distributors – US-based Arrow Electronics and Taiwan-based WPG Holdings and Synnex Technology International – are all eyeing the possibility of acquiring Taiwan-based IC distributor Yosun Industrial in order to expand market share and sustain future growth, according to industry sources. However, Yosun has declined to comment on the rumors. Read more |
|
|
|
© DIGITIMES Inc. All rights reserved.
Please do not republish, publicly broadcast or publicly transmit content from this website without written permission from DIGITIMES Inc. Please contact us if you have any questions. |
|
