Own-brand and ODM handset shipments from Taiwan both saw strong sequential growths in the second quarter of 2013. Taiwan's handset shipments for the second half of 2013 will be about 30% higher than the levels for the first half.
Taiwan's notebook industry is facing a tough challenge amid a weak global economy and keen competition from tablets. Taiwan makers suffered their worst-ever on-year drop in shipments in the second quarter of 2013.
The global DSC market has been facing severe challenges from smartphones with powerful camera functions. DSC vendors' poor sales mean significant cuts to orders for their Taiwan-based manufacturing partners. As a result, Taiwan's DSC shipments dropped significantly to below six million units in the first quarter of 2013.
Seasonality played a key role in bringing down Taiwan makers' handset shipments by 18.3% sequentially in first-quarter 2013. Taiwan's top handset maker HTC saw an even steeper fall in shipments partly due to component shortages plaguing its high-end models. But shipments will rebound in the second quarter, as major client Sony Mobile Communications will introduce new models and HTC see the component shortages ease.
ARM architecture for application processors (APs) remains the mainstay for mobile applications, with the top five suppliers of ARM architecture-based APs - Qualcomm, Apple, Samsung, MediaTek and Spreadtrum - currently accounting for around 90% of the market. Digitimes Research looks at each supplier's strengths and weaknesses through a comprehensive analysis of technology, architecture, product positioning and shipments, providing the industry with an overview of the latest trends and developments in the AP industry.
Taiwan makers' notebook shipments dropped 15.7% sequentially and 14.3% on year to 36.89 million units in the first quarter of 2013 as more consumers chose tablets over conventional notebooks. Seasonality worsened the market conditions for notebooks. Taiwan's notebook industry will see its worst-ever on-year drop in the second quarter.
Thunderbolt interface technology (Light Peak) was created by Intel but licensed exclusively to Apple for one year in June 2011. However, once other system makers had the opportunity to use the technology in their products, implementation has not been as widespread as predicted. Due to this phenomenon, this Digitimes Research Special Report investigates the obstacles and problems that Thunderbolt technology has faced in becoming more widespread in the market and offers predictions concerning the development of the technology in the future.
This report takes Google's core businesses as a starting point to analyze how Google is competing in the one-cloud, many-screen environment. This is followed by an analysis of the strategic expansion of the Android and Chrome OS platforms, complemented by an exploration of Google's presence in the digital content service business and its goals in operating in this sector. Lastly, the report examines Google's strategic thinking and positioning with regard to the launch of Google-branded smartphones, tablets and notebooks, as well as an overview of key supply chain partners for these products.
During the 12th FYP period, only semiconductor companies established from 2011 are eligible for tax incentives. Moreover, only profitable firms working in areas consistent with government goals will be offered subsidies, with a quota of 40 firms also imposed. These requirements and assessments may encourage IC design startups, while also focusing R&D resources on product and technology sectors the government views as promising. The ultimate impact will probably be to weed out poorly performing firms and expedite the consolidation of the industry.
