THT Research - Weekly Newsletter from Taiwan

The Latest News on Global IT Contract Manufacturing - from www.THTresearch.com 

BRING ON THE ORDERS
 
HannStar Display mobile phone flat-panel display order
HannStar Display has just received an order from Casio Computer (Japan) for flat-panel displays to be utilized in 3G mobile phones. HannStar intends to begin shipments in 1Q06, shipping as much as 20K panels monthly.
 
Xerox picks Dalsa as manufacturing partner
Xerox chooses Dalsa as its manufacturing partner for technology development. The move is expected to enable the development of â??new classesâ?? of MEMS for the market.
 
TSMC digital signal processor orders
Hisense (China) selects TSMC to produce the DSPs it designs for its color TVs. The order calls for the deployment of over 1M DSPs made with 0.18-micron process through 2005.
 
China Wireless subsidiary receives contract from Nankai Univ
China Wireless' subsidiary Tianjin Create, has received a contract from Nankai University to provide servers, desk and laptop computers with broadband internet service and support services for a year.
 
Nokia US$125M GSM/EDGE expansion contract
Bharti Tele-Ventures contracts Nokia to expand its managed GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks in eight areas for US$125M.
 
 
CHINA
 
CEC Telecom, China Communication and Shenzhen Rongine Technology to make satellite navigation terminal products for China market
CEC Telecom, China Communication and Shenzhen Rongine Technology are teaming up to develop satellite navigation terminal products, which include GPS/GSM cell phones, for the Chinese market. Plans include for CECT to make at least 500K units of GPS/GSM cell phones for China Communication to introduce to the China market yearly.
 
3M to invest US$300M in China
3M plans to invest US$300M in China over the next five years. As part of this commitment, a US$40M R&D center was started in Shanghai. It is expected to be finished in May06 to function as one of 3M's top five global R&D centers.
 
 
COMPANY NEWS AND INDUSTRY TRENDS
 
IBM, Advanced Micro Devices extend development efforts to 2011
IBM and AMD have agreed to prolong their development efforts to 2011. The firm will continue their R&D in 32nm and 22nm process and chip technologies.
 
Elitegroup to stop NB production
Elitegroup Computer Systems has decided to cease its NB operations to focus on contract manufacturing activities. It has already reduced its NB shipments to 600K units from the 1M that was anticipated for 2005.
 
Kinpo-Compal to launch own brand of car TV
Due to the success of the introduction of its iDO smartphone brand, Kinpo-Compal is planning to develop and launch its own brand of car TV, which is produced by its subsidiary Cal-Comp Electronics.
 
 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DISPUTES
 
Fujitsu files DRAM patent infringement suit against Japanese Nanya affiliate
Fujitsu has just filed a DRAM patent infringement lawsuit against the Japanese affiliate of Nanya Technology (Taiwan) at the Tokyo District Court. The lawsuit seeks to ban the future importation and sales of infringing DRAM products from Nanya as well as compensation for previous infringement.
 
Agilent Technologies sells semiconductor products group for $2.66B
Agilent Technologies has sold its troubled Semiconductor Products Group to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co for $2.66B.In addition, Agilent has agreed to sell its stake Lumileds to Royal Philips Electronics for $950M plus repayment of $50M of debt from Lumileds.
 

M & A
 
Freescale Semiconductor purchases Seaway Networks
Freescale Semiconductor has acquired Seaway Networks of Canada. Seaway is a fabless semicon provider of content-processing technology and products for the data networking market. As such, the acquisition is said to increase Freescale's communications chip concern.
 
Emblaze Systems and VCON form Emblaze VCON
Emblaze Systems, a subsidiary of Emblaze that offers delivery and management solutions for video over wireless IP networks, and VCON, an Israel video communication systems firm, have formed Emblaze VCON. The new firm is the result of an acquisition deal by Emblaze of VCONâ??s assets, partner relations and intellectual property. Emblaze VCON will be based in Europe.
 
China Electronics Corp. and Great Wall Computer Group merge to form mega electronics firm with assets over $6B
CEC and Great Wall Computer Group merge to form mega electronics firm with assets over $6B. The merger might even include Panda Electronics Group and China Putian, which boost the asset value of the new company to more than $10B..
 
Intel Capital China Technology Fund invests in Chipsbrand Microelectronics, Onewave Technologies, and VeriSilicon Holdings
Intel Capital China Technology Fund invests undisclosed amounts in three Chinese firms - Chipsbrand Microelectronics, a fabless semicon design firm; Onewave Technologies, a broadband entertainment technology solutions provider; and VeriSilicon Holdings, an ASIC design firm.
 
Motorola Ventures invests in Intellon
Motorola has made an equity investment in Intellon, a provider of HomePlug-compatible IC's for home networking, networked entertainment and connected powerline applications.
 
Agilent Technologies to acquire Eagleware-Elanix
Agilent Techniologies plans to purchase Eagleware-Elanix, a system and circuit design software provider. The merger will enable Agilent to bring to market a wide range of products and services for high-frequency design.
 
Vishay Intertechnology to buy CyOptics Israel
Vishay Intertechnology plans to acquire CyOptics Israel for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is part of Vishayâ??s efforts to bring its optoelectronics division at the top of the gallium arsenide and indium phosphide technologies.
 
Royal Bank of Scotland leads $3.1B investment in Bank of China
The Royal Bank of Scotland is leading a $3.1B investment (together with Americaâ??s Merrill Lynch and Li Ka-Shing, one of Hong Kongâ??s richest investors) for a 10% stake in BoC.
 
Asustek, Flextronics team up to compete better with Hon Hai
Asustek and Flextronics are teaming up to better compete with Hon Hai. Under the â??cooperationâ?? Asustek will contract Flextronics to make MBs in southern China to solve insufficient production capacity, while Flextronics aids Asustek assemble desktop computers and increase its strength in international logistics services via its production bases worldwide.
 
Monstermob Group to buy ATOP Century for US$100M
Monstermob Group plans to acquire ATOP Century for US$100M. This figure will be settled in equal proportions of cash and shares. Upon completion of the acquisition though, Monstermob will pay US$30M in cash and US$12M in shares immediately.