Taiwanese players on the rise in Japan
Jan 14, 2005
The entry of Taiwanese Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) is reshaping the consumer-electronics landscape, allowing new competitors to enter the market in competition with the traditionally-dominant Japanese players. These ODMs use their own supply chains, which are distinct from the internal sources employed by the vertically-integrated Japanese giants. Even back in 2003, there was evidence that this supply-chain realignment was reshuffling the consumer-electronics semiconductor-supplier ranks in some areas. MediaTek Inc. of Taiwan in 2003 became the number-one supplier of DVD player ICs, moving from the number-two position to displace Matsushita of Japan, iSuppli estimates. Taiwanese ODMs increasingly are employing chips from MediaTek and other domestic suppliers, particularly in commodity product areas like DVD players. Another indication of the shift in consumer-electronics supply chains was the rise of OmniVision Technologies Inc. as a supplier of digital still camera semiconductors. The rise of OmniVision closer to the rankings of the top CCD suppliers reflects the ascension of new Taiwanese players, which are seeking alternative image-capture solutions outside of the traditional supply chain. www.iSuppli.com
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