THT Research - Weekly Newsletter from Taiwan

The Latest News on Global IT Contract Manufacturing from www.THTresearch.com  
 
BRING ON THE ORDERS
 
Sony looking for more Taiwanese digital camera OEM partners
Sony, after receiving numerous complaints for its CCD quality for several digital cameras in China, has now announced that it is looking for Taiwanese partners. Ability Enterprise, Asia Optical, and Altek are some of the Taiwanese concerns showing interest in a potential partnership.
 
iPOD remote control orders
Rumors have it that Primax Electronics has received wired radio remote control orders from Apple for iPod nano and video iPods, with volume shipments having already begun. The remote control lets users listen to FM radio and control video and music playback. Primax is a major maker of MFPs.
 
Nokia SD cards
Nokia has ordered SD cards from SanDisk, according to SanDisk's Taiwan distributor Zenitron.
 
HP NB power cable orders
Taiwan Line Tek has received orders to supply power cables for HP's NB PCs. Taiwan Line Tek plans to expand China capacity to 4-5M units/month (from 2M) following the orders.
 
ATI, Nvidia chip orders
ProMos Technologies Corp has received orders from ATI and Nvidia for niche-type memory chips (SIP chips incorporating power conserving types of SDRAM and pseudo SRAM with NAND flash memory or NOR flash memory chips). ProMos will set aside half of its 200-mm wafer fab capacity for niche-memory chips.
 
 
COMPANY NEWS AND INDUSTRY TRENDS
 
SMIC - ARC partnership
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation and ARC International have formed a strategic partnership under which SMIC will design and manufacture ARC’s configurable processor.
 
MSI new poducts at CES
Micro-Star International (MSI) introduced a concept design of a solar-powered notebook and a graphics card enabling infinite upgrades at the 2006 CES. THe graphics card series - Geminium-GO has high efficiency and low power consumption.
 
Samsung procurement from Taiwan to increase
Samsung Electronics plans to buy US$2.5B worth of IT products from Taiwan companies this year, up 25% from 2005. Samsung will focus on LCD panels and semicon devices.
 
Intel to license from C-Media Electronics
Intel plans to license soft ware and technology from Taiwan fabless house C-Media Electronics Inc., and Intel will pay royalties to C-Media. In 2005, C-Media and Intel began co-development of High Definition Audio.
 
Taiwan Optical Disc Makers push Blue Ray
Ritek, CMC, Prodisc, and Otiodisc, Taiwan optical disc makers, seem to be convinced that blue-ray technology will be the format of the future, beating out HD-DVD technology. Both companies are scrambling to raise money to invest in blue-ray production equipment. Ritek and CMC are expected to begin mass production of blue-ray discs in 2006.
 
Samsung - AUO coop
AUO and Samsung have agreed to share IP for TFT-LCD and OLE D mfg technologies.
 
New Intel Macs
Apple and Intel intorduced the new iMac with Intel Core Duo processor and the new MacBook Pro laptop at the 2006 Macworld in SF, CA on Tuesday. The introduction was ahead of schedule, likely a move to try to convince all the Wintel hating Mac users that Apple is still keeping the faith.
 
 
DSC
 
Sony looking to outsource DSC production to Taiwan
Reports indicate that Sony is negotiating with several Taiwan ODMs, including Premier, for digital camera contract manufacturing. Made-in-Taiwan Sony cameras could hit the market as soon as 2Q06.
 
 
M & A
 
Philips divests from Arcadayan -- Accton takes over shares
Accton Technology plans to increase stake in Arcadyan from 52% to 100%, buying Royal Philips share for US$60.8M. Arcadayan is a wireless broadband solution provider. Philips is one of Arcadayan's major customers and its divestment is intended to relax other customers.
 
SMIC to acquire Taiwan design house
China foundry SMIC plan s to acquire Taiwan IC design house Socle in order to increase its 12-inch fab utilization rate, according to reports.
 
Arima devices acquiring PUH business from Philips
Arima Devices Corp. plans to acquire Koninklijke Philips Electronics’ Optical PUH business unit. Philips will also acquire a 14.5% stake in Arima Devices as part of the deal.
 
Sangyang in vesting in Indian scooter maker
Sangyang Industrial Co (Taiwan) is buying an 11.1% stake in Kinteic Motor (India), a scooter maker, fur US$3.1M. Kinetic will manufacture Sangyang models in India as part of the deal.