Driver IC maker Novatek Microelectronics has said it will develop more products for smartphones and digital still cameras (DSCs) in 2009.
In addition to its original handset product lines, Novatek will strive to expand its smartphone market and expects to cut into the supply chain of first-tier handset makers this year, said company president Steve Wang.
Since the Japanese yen continues to appreciate, several Korea-based makers, who used to adopt Japan-sourced products, have inquired about Novatek's applications recently, Wang added.
Novatek is also entering the DSC market and has begun small shipments to customers in Japan. Wang expects to see more partnerships with Japan-based companies after the first quarter.
The company recently reported that sales declined 34.5% sequentially to NT$4.53 billion (US$131.1 million) in the fourth quarter of 2008, while gross margin increased 1.54 percentage points due to depreciation of the NT dollar. Shipments of large-size driver ICs dropped in the fourth quarter, pushing the share of small-size and SoC applications. Novatek estimates its sales in the first quarter to drop 20-30% because it is the weak season for the electronics industry.
Steve Wang, president of Novatek
Photo: Ingrid Lee, Digitimes, February 2009
Article translated by Meiling Chen and edited by Ricky Morris
