Mobile phone displays benefit from emerging markets; units up 30 percent Q/Q in Q2’09

AUSTIN, USA: After hitting bottom in Q1’09, mobile display shipments for Q2’09 reached 360 million, up 30 percent Q/Q and 3 percent Y/Y. Revenues were up 29 percent Q/Q to $2.93 billion, but down 5 percent Y/Y.

According to the DisplaySearch Quarterly Mobile Phone Shipment and Forecast Report, the saturated Western European and North American markets are expected to see subscriber growth of less than 10 percent Y/Y in 2009, while emerging markets like India and China are driving growth. These booming regions had a higher global system for mobile communication (GSM) penetration ratio.

“The global economy is slowly recovering, fueling growth in mobile phone shipments in Q2’09,” noted Calvin Hsieh, DisplaySearch Research Director. “Despite this, total 2009 mobile phone demand in North America and Western Europe is still less than 2008, an impact of the recession. Looking ahead, we expect it will be a better year in 2010, with worldwide mobile phone growth of 15 percent and emerging markets playing an increasingly vital role in shipments.”

Fig. 1: Mobile Phone Shipments by RegionSource: DisplaySearch Quarterly Mobile Phone Shipment and Forecast Report

Unable to penetrate emerging markets, Nokia’s market share continues to decline, falling from 31.7 percent in Q1’09 to 25.5 percent in Q2’09. Nokia was unsuccessful in catching up with GSM growth rates in emerging markets. White-box handsets mainly produced in China also captured nearly 20 percent market share from brand names.

Fig. 2: Mobile Phone Market Share by Supplier
Source: DisplaySearch Quarterly Mobile Phone Shipment and Forecast Report

With touch functionality, higher resolution and larger displays (3.5”+) for smart phones, active matrix displays are growing as a share of the mobile phone market.

Taking advantage of its cost-effectiveness, a-Si TFT LCD reached 46.6 percent share of the market. LTPS TFT LCDs grew 25.3 percent Q/Q, maintaining a 21.6 percent share. AMOLED displays capitalized on high-end devices such as Samsung Anycall, growing 54.5 percent Q/Q with a 1.3 percent share.

China remains a critical region for both handset manufacturing and demand. Local panel manufacturers have successfully maintained market share, accounting for 20 percent of the overall demand in 2009. The country also produced 50.4 percent CSTN panels, especially BYD, for the handsets which were mainly made for emerging markets.

Experience the 'Clean Tech' from Taiwan at CES 2010!

TAIPEI, TAIWAN: Taiwan, a key player in 3C industry (Consumer electronics, Computers, and Communication products) in the world will shine again with its Clean Tech in the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow - CES 2010 (Consumer Electronics Show)!!

Taiwanese companies have always been well known for their timely delivery, professional skills, as well as reasonable prices. The products’ reasonable prices often driven by gradual production-cost down raised consumption level and also boosted the growth of Taiwan’s high-tech industry in the past.

However, due to the global financial crisis, consumption level in the past two years has not risen as usual. Taiwanese enterprises therefore have redirected their efforts more to new innovations such as Clean Tech to stay competitive in the new era.

Hybrid and electric vehicles, carbon capture and sequestration, new video conference, blue tech, biofuels, renewable energy, recycling, wind, solar energy, smart grid, LED, etc. are the most common items of Clean Tech. If you are interested in Clean Tech, especially LED innovations, you definitely have to visit Taiwan booths in LVCC (Las Vegas Convention Center) South Hall and LV Hilton in CES 2010!!

Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) is honored to lead Taiwanese suppliers to participate in CES 2010 held in Las Vegas from Jan. 7 to 10, 2010. On display will be up-to-date products and innovations, such as media players, bluetooth speakers, MP3, digital photo frames, digital cameras, digital notepads, electronics components and accessories, LED modules, USB, CCTV cameras, HDMI extenders and more. Plus, the latest information of Taipei Trade Shows, including Computex Taipei 2010, TAITRONICS, Taiwan RFID, Display Taiwan, and Broadband Taiwan will be available at the TAITRA booth in LVCC South Hall 1.

Want to know more about Taiwanese suppliers and experience “Clean Tech” from Taiwan?! Get a sneak preview at http://mission.taiwantrade.com.tw/CES2010 before coming to the show. View the Taiwan exhibitors’ link to see what each vendor has to offer and plan your trip accordingly. You can even make advance online appointments with them through the website.

Confidence in consumer electronics at highest level in history of CEA-CNET Index

ARLINGTON, USA: Consumer confidence in consumer electronics reached the highest level in the history of the CEA-CNET Index, according to figures released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and CNET.

The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Technology Expectations (ICTE) reached 93.5, the highest level of the index since tracking began in January 2007. The ICTE, which measures consumer expectations about technology spending, also saw the largest sequential increase in the history of the index. The ICTE climbed more than 14 points from October and is up more than nine points from this time last year.

CEA’s recent 16th Annual CE Holiday Purchase Patterns Study underscored consumer’s desire for technology in finding that 80 percent of individuals want consumer electronics as a gift this holiday, the highest results in the history of the study.

“This holiday shopping season is shaping up to be a digital one with consumers looking to purchase technology gifts,” according to Shawn DuBravac, CEA’s chief economist and director of research. “November’s index results show consumers are eagerly anticipating purchasing electronics on Black Friday and during the rest of the holiday shopping season even with a difficult overall economic picture.”

Consumer confidence in the overall economy decreased this month. The CEA-CNET Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE) fell to 165.3, the lowest level since July 2008. The ICE, which measures consumer expectations about the broader economy, is down nearly nine points from last month and down more than four points from this time last year.

“Consumers continue to worry about the overall direction of the economy,” said DuBravac. “Concerns over a still declining job market and personal financial health persist among many Americans.”

Strategy Analytics on appealing automotive entertainment features

BOSTON, USA: A recent Strategy Analytics survey of vehicle owners in the USA and Western Europe found that drivers increasingly want to be able to use their own devices, such as iPods and MP3 players, via their vehicle’s stereo system. However, in-car AM/FM radios and CD players continue to be the most essential entertainment equipment.

“In both the US and UK, consumers prefer an audio-in connector to stream music from their personal players through the in-vehicle stereo,” commented Chris Schreiner, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics. “Consumers in France and Germany, however, preferred a USB connection.”

Kevin Nolan, Vice President of the Strategy Analytics User Experience Practice, added, “In the UK, digital radio also showed positive levels of usage, interest and consumer satisfaction.”

Details may be found in the Strategy Analytics Automotive Consumer Insights (ACI) report: “Consumers Want Entertainment Device Connectivity.”

Additional findings from this research include:
* 83 percent of consumers listen to their AM/FM radio in their vehicle at least once a week, while 65 percent listen to their CD player once a week, or more;
* 22 percent of consumers in the US consider an audio-in connector a necessity when purchasing their next vehicle; and
* 22 percent of consumers in the UK consider digital radio to be essential.

Telestream industry leader in global video transcoders market

NEVADA CITY, USA: Telestream, a provider of world-class video transcoding solutions, affirms its leadership position with the announcement that Frost & Sullivan has presented the company with two 2009 Global Video Transcoders Market Leadership Awards.

The Competitive Strategy Leadership Award recognizes Telestream for its accomplishments in the overall global enterprise, broadband and mobile video transcoders market. The World Market Share Leadership award recognizes Telestream's position in the global broadband video transcoders market sector.

The awards cite Telestream's best practices as being unmatched in their field; acknowledge the company's continued double-digit growth rate and market share dominance; as well as the creativity and dedication of its executive team and employees.

Frost and Sullivan's Competitive Strategy Leadership Award is based on key criteria that benchmarks Telestream against its competitors in the areas of competitive intelligence, competitive strategy, market share, brand positioning and customer satisfaction.

"Telestream has focused on using transcoding as an enabling technology and has been able to successfully merge it with other components to provide customers with complete workflow solutions. Further, Telestream has made two major acquisitions that have helped the company leverage growth," said Vidya S. Nath, Senior Industry Analyst at Frost and Sullivan.

"Despite tough economic conditions and extremely competitive situations, Telestream has enjoyed substantial growth in 2009 and established itself as a leading transcoding vendor across multiple market segments."

Traditional and pay TV services migrating infrastructure to more efficient CDN and data center models

SCOTTSDALE, USA: Traditional Video-on-Demand services and traditional “siloed” video services currently use a great deal of proprietary, or industry-specific, equipment.

In-Stat sees traditional and pay TV service providers migrating to more efficient Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and data center models based on server virtualization. This migration enables content portability and will have a direct impact on equipment vendors, service providers and content owners.

“Increasing usage of ‘over-the-top’ internet video is driving traditional TV service providers to launch TV Everywhere initiatives,” says Gerry Kaufhold, In-Stat analyst.

“The data center approach promises more flexibility to manage content for delivery to multiple device types, enabling service providers to offer any content, on any platform, in any location.”

In-Stat believes next-generation on demand approaches increase content owner influence, and greatly expand the delivery options. Among other impacts, content owners and service providers will need to re-negotiate licensing agreements that will reflect more flexibility and responsiveness to consumer demands. The CDN trend will also drive a shift in the type of equipment and features that manufacturers provide to service providers to handle video delivery.

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

* Over the next five years, the worldwide value of Content Delivery Network (CDN) services will pass US$2 billion annually by 2011 and continue growing thereafter.
* Barriers, such as digital rights management, competing encoding formats and standards, and restricted bandwidth remain a challenge to meet customers’ new demands for flexibility in content use.
* Adaptive Bit Rate Video approaches will permit IP-networks to deliver a quality User Experience at lower bit rates.