iStaging has seen a surge in inquiries following China's coronavirus outbreak about its VR/AR solutions that can replace person-to-person contact conventionally entailed in general business operations, according to company COO Rene Fang.Real estate agents in Taiwan have adopted VR solutions to enable clients to browse selected properties using smartphones, tablets, PCs or even VR glasses, Fang said. If potential clients are interested in certain real properties, agents can introduce detailed information to them and answer questions in a VR environment, Fang noted.Other industries can also use VR/AR solutions to hike operation efficiency, Fang indicated. Logistics service operators can use VR/AR solutions to let clients remotely understand utilization of warehousing space and related management; retail operators can be helped make decisions on store deco or floor plan; factories can use them in employee training; and hotels can let customers preview room conditions and environment of hotels.With improvements in hardware/software technology and mature use of cloud computing, VR/AR solutions are no longer impractical and costly, Fang said.Clients using iStaging solutions only need to use video recording sets equipped with fisheye lenses (can be smartphone cameras, cameras or 360-degree panoramic cameras), and use an app to process the videos and then upload them to the cloud computing to turn them into VR content, Fang explained. Clients can make cloud computing-based VR content available for their customers via putting the content on its official websites, Fang noted. iStaging COO Rene FangPhoto: Vincent Mao, Digitimes, February 2020

ezTravel, the largest Taiwan-based online travel agency, has cooperated with AI-based solution developer Appier to provide services for customized personal tourism planning using AI-based big data analysis.For users of its website or other websites, ezTravel analyzes their using behavior, such as key word search, and devices for Internet connection to profile their tourism behavior as reference for precise marketing.The precise marketing is to send desired information to target consumers based on tourism behavior at appropriate time and via appropriate channels through interaction-based push of relevant information to trigger their purchases. For example, for users searching for information on Kenting, a sight-seeing place in the southern tip of Taiwan, at ezTravel website, ezTravel will push notification of government's tourism subsidization in fall and winter seasons to interest them. When they browse pages about hotels and leave before making reservation, ezTravel will immediately push detailed information on hotels to induce them to make reservation. In addition, through AI-based analysis of whether they have derived needs such as booking flight tickets or renting cars, ezTravel will push coresponding information.According to Tourism Bureau under Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Taiwan recorded overseas travel volume of 8.61 million person/trips in first-half 2019, growing 2.63% on year, and Japan, South Korea and Thailand were the top-3 destinations.

To improve 5G spectrum's usage efficiency, 3GPP has brought up several solutions with dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) being one of the major technologies expected to be used when transitioning from 4G to 5G. The technology is expected to be adopted by the enterprise market in the second half of 2020, according to Digitimes Research's study of 5G networks.Since 5G requires high numbers of cell deployments, telecom carriers will have to spend significant amounts related developments, including the high costs of obtaining 5G licenses.In Taiwan, the first-round biddings on 5G spectrums totaled NT$138.08 billion (US$4.55 billion), much higher than the NT$40-50 billion expected by market observers. The sum is nearly NT$20 billion higher than the first-round bidding amount for 4G spectrums.The high costs may also deter adoption of 5G by emerging applications that have lower margins and could hamper the development of the 5G sector. Therefore, 3GPP has been offering solutions under three major categories: licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum and shared spectrum, looking to enhance 5G's usage efficiency.Within 3GPP's Release 15 (Rel-15), DSS will allow carriers to simultaneously serve both 4G and 5G users, instead of needing to clear out all 4G users in the spectrum before being able to support the next-generation network standard. With the network mode that combines 4G with 5G, the technology will help accelerate carriers' paces in the deployment of 5G standalone networks.However, for DSS to be implemented into a 5G network, chips, and equipment will all need to support the technology, but so far only modem chips supplied by Qualcomm and MediaTek are able to support it. With more telecom carriers and equipment suppliers to soon release DSS solutions that support FDD/TDD, the commercialization of DSS is likely to take off in the second half of 2020.Bidding results of 3.4-3.6GHz 5G spectrums (NT$b)MarketTotal bandwidth releasedLicense validityBidding amountCosts per MHzCosts per capita for each MHz (NT$)Taiwan270MHz20 years136.430.5121.40South Korea280MHz10 years78.60.285.30Italy200MHz20 years152.10.7612.60Germany300MHz20 years1430.485.80Source: Governments, compiled by Digitimes Research, January 2020

The UK Tech Rocketship Awards are open to Taiwan-based startup businesses for the first time, with six candidates to be selected to participate in the London Tech Week 2020 during June 8-12, the British Office in Taipei has announced.Three categories of the UK Tech Rocketship Awards are available for Taiwan-based startups: AI and data science covering data analytics, data centers, cloud computing, AI, machine learning, digital infrastructure, business model transformation, process innovation; technologies for an aging society (life science) mainly covering medical technologies, digital health, new medical care technologies, smart housing and devices; future mobility covering innovative smart city solutions, IoT, autonomous and connected vehicles, urban connectivity, citizen engagement.Two Taiwan-based startups will be selected for each category. Qualified competitors are startups which develop innovative technology-led solutions, have had business operation for over two years and are looking to internationalize.The UK Tech Rocketship Awards are an excellent platform for startups to grow internationally and Taiwan-based ones are encouraged for participation to gain international exposure and expand global networks, said British Representative to Taiwan Catherine Nettleton.For interested Taiwan-based startups, the deadline for applications is April 13 and the six winners will be announced on May 11.So far, more than 1,700 startups from Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea have participated in the UK Tech Rocketship Awards.British Representative to Taiwan Catherine NettletonPhoto: Mark Tsai, Digitimes, February 2020

The extent of the impact on the ecosystem by the coronavirus outbreak is anyone's guess at this stage, but industry and market observers generally agree that a prolonged epidemic will take a heavy toll on both the supply chain and consumer demand. The China smartphone market is very likely to see a sharp drop in shipments in first-quarter 2020, and in a more optimistic scenario, smartphone shipments to the China market will drop 9% if the outbreak can be contained by the end of February, according to some observers. This is bad news for everyone involved in the smartphone market, including vendors of mobile processors. MediaTek, who has a strong presnece in China's handset maket, may see a sequential decline of as much as 15% in revenues in the first quarter. But foundry house TSMC is not ready to revise its guidance for the first-quarter sales, which accroding to its forecast given last month, will decrease slightly compared to fourth-quarter 2019. China smartphone shipments to fall off a cliff in 1Q20: Smartphone shipments in China are likely to fall off a cliff in the first quarter of 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to industry sources.MediaTek 1Q20 sales likely to fall 15%: MediaTek is likely to post a revenue decline of as much as 15% sequentially in the first quarter of 2020, due mainly to a collapse in demand from China's handset market, according to market sources.TSMC reiterates sales guidance for 1Q20: TSMC currently has no plans to revise its sales and margin guidance for the first quarter of 2020, according to the pure-play foundry, which also disclosed non-production staff at its China-based wafer fabs will return to work on February 10.

The coronavirus outbreak in China has widespread impacts on the ICT supply chain. Although many makers are supposed to resume production in China next week or in mid-February if no further complications occur, they cannot tell how normal their operations will be. Notebook ODMs estimate their utilization rates will be 50-70%, depending on the numbers of workers able or willing to return to work and material supply conditions. Companies in other sectors face the similar uncertianties and China-based panel makers, including BOE, CSOT and Tianma, who have fabs in Wuhan - the epicenter of the outbreak - could fare worse. For the mobile device market, the first year for the 5G era got off to a really bad start. Demand for 5G smartphones is likely to bt hit by the outbreak, which in turn will dampen sales of mobile DRAM.Notebook ODMs to see coronavirus hit production: Taiwan-based notebook ODMs, which operate their plants mainly in China, have estimated their production utilization rates will range from 50% to 70% after resuming operation following the extended Lunar New Year break, as employees' return and supply of components and materials are being disrupted due to the coronavirus outbreak.LCD fabs in Wuhan may suffer material shortages: LCD fabs run by BOE Technology, China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT) and Tianma Microelectronics in Wuhan - the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak - may suffer a shortage of upstream raw materials due to mounting transport curbs in China as a means to contain the epidemic, according to industry sources.Mobile DRAM demand uncertainty emerges: Mobile DRAM demand for smartphones is likely to disappoint in the first half of 2020, as the coronavirus outbreak may hit sales of new 5G-compatible phones, according to market sources.

Fintech startup business Aifian in 2019 launched its AI Chia Chia, an artificial intellignece-based app functioning as a broker for personal credit information, and has partnered with DoDoHome, a large car parking service provider in Taiwan, for initial commercial use, according to company founder and CEO Ocean Liu.Using AI and chat robot technology, AI Chia Chia collects users' personal credit information via conversation for a few minutes, Liu said. Then, the app can use AI-based algorithms to undertake cloud-based analysis of such information to profile personal credit rating, which is expected to be helpful for users applying for small-amount credit loans, Liu noted.Aifian targets car parking service providers, airline companies and e-commerce operators as partners for use of AI Chia Chia, for they focus on payments by credit cards, Liu indicated, adding that Aifian aims to tap overseas markets.So far, there are nearly 122,000 users of AI Chia Chia, according to Aifian's website.Notebook- and smartphone-based use of AI Chia ChiaPhoto: Aifian

Global tablet shipments totaled 43.23 million units in the fourth quarter of 2019. Shipments from China's white-box players weakened in the quarter due to their need to digest inventory, while brand vendors mostly saw increased shipments thanks to seasonal momentum, according to Digitimes Research's latest tablet report.As the tablet market enters the traditional slow season and China's coronavirus outbreak has extended the Lunar New Year holidays there by 1-2 weeks, global tablet shipments are expected to arrive at only 28.56 million units, a new low, estimates Digitimes Research.Apple was the largest tablet vendor worldwide in the fourth quarter of 2019 thanks to mass shipments of its 10.2-inch 7th generation iPad. Samsung Electronics was in second place, followed by Amazon in third, Huawei in fourth and Microsoft in fifth. Lenovo fell out of the top-5 in the fourth quarter of 2019.Amazon will drop to fourth place in the first quarter of 2020 due to a major decline in shipments, giving the third place to Huawei. Microsoft will remain fifth.Shipments of tablets with 10-inch and above displays accounted for 70% of the global volumes in the fourth quarter of 2019, while those with 8.x-inch displays also enjoyed a rise in share to over 17%. The share of 10-inch and above models will continue to rise to nearly 75% in the first quarter of 2020, while 7-inch devices' share will drop to 5.7%, down from 10.7% in the previous quarter due to Amazon's sharp shipment decline. The 8-inch form factor will take over the 7-inch one to become the mainstream size for inexpensive tablets.Amazon's tablet shipment drop in the fourth quarter 2019 affected the shipment share of tablets with GFF touchscreen technology, allowing the percentage of those with in-cell technology to pick up. Amazon's expected sharp shipment decline in the first quarter of 2020 will significantly benefit the shipment share of in-cell-based tablets.Of Taiwan's tablet shipments, over 50% will be contributed by Foxconn Technology Group (Hon Hai Precision Industry) in the first quarter of 2020, a new high since the second quarter of 2018 because of orders for iPad Pro (2020). China-based BYD has entered Apple's table supply chain in 2020 and will take away a part of entry-level iPad orders from Taiwan makers. Since BYD is still new, orders it has received will not significantly affect Apple's other existing partners in the first quarter of 2020.Global tablet shipment share by vendor, 1Q19-1Q20 (%)Source: Digitimes Research, February 2020

The coronavirus outbreak is definitely having short-term impacts on the supply chain in China. The memory sector was heading for recovery before the outbreak, with prices on the rise. Now memory prices are likely to rise at a slower pace as clients in China are more reluctant to fill their stocks. For Taiwanese ASIC vendors, shipments in first-quarter 2020 may be affected by the outbreak, but their clients in China have assured them that overall orders will remain significant. In the notebook maket, global shipments are expected to drop in the first quarter of 2020, according to Digitimes Research.Memory prices to rise at slower pace: Memory chip prices are likely to rise at a slower pace in February, as buyers in China are holding a wait-and-see approach, according to industry observers.Taiwan ASIC makers see little impact on China orders despite outbreak: Taiwan-based ASIC solution suppliers have to delay postpone shipments to Chinese clients in the meantime amid the coronavirus outbreak, but their longer-term orders from China will remain unaffected, as clients there will continue to reduce reliance on US suppliers of vital IC components, according to industry sources.Digitimes Research: Global notebook shipments to decline in 1Q20: Global notebook shipments were weaker-than-expected in the fourth quarter of 2019 due to Intel's ongoing CPU shortages and major brands stopping stocking extra inventory in the wake of easing US-China trade tensions. However, annual shipments in 2019 still grew 4.1% on year, according to Digitimes Research's notebook tracker.

Global notebook shipments were weaker-than-expected in the fourth quarter of 2019 due to Intel's ongoing CPU shortages and major brands stopping stocking extra inventory in the wake of easing US-China trade tensions. However, annual shipments in 2019 still grew 4.1% on year, according to Digitimes Research's notebook tracker.Seasonality, continuous shortages of Intel CPUs and the fact that the replacement trend of Windows 10 models in the enterprise segment has reached an end will result in global notebook shipments slipping by a double-digit percentage sequentially and a drop on year in the first quarter of 2020, estimates Digitimes Research.Leading brand Hewlett-Packard (HP) is expected to suffer from a dramatic shipment decline in the first quarter of 2020 because of an internal business reshuffling, unclear strategy for its new products, high channel inventory and tight CPU supply.Second-place Dell will also see a slip in first-quarter shipments because of seasonality. The proportion of Dell's outsourcing to Taiwan-based ODM is also expected to rise slightly in the quarter. As most enterprises have already completed substituting their old PCs, demand from the enterprise segment in the first quarter may be weaker than that of the consumer one.Asustek Computer is expected to remain the fourth-largest brands worldwide in the first quarter, but the company has continued to be seriously undermined by Intel's CPU shortages as the company has not been keen on adopting AMD's solutions.ODM Compal Electronics will see its share in Taiwan's overall notebook shipments rise in the first quarter thanks to increased orders for enterprise notebooks from HP. However, Inventec's share will slip due to losing HP's orders.The analysis does not take into consideration of the impact from China's coronavirus outbreak. Currently, Taiwan ODMs' plants in China and most of the country's logistic systems are in suspension and are unlikely to resume operation until February 10. With over 90% of notebooks manufactured in China, global notebook shipments may dip another 10-20% from the current estimation.