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LED chipmaker Epistar estimates 38% revenue drop in December January 7, 2009

Posted by readymarket in LED chipmaker, online sourcing, sourcing services.
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Taiwan’s leading LED chipmaker Epistar estimates a 38% drop in December 2008 revenues to about NT$400 million (US$12 million), marking the lowest monthly level of 2008, according to market sources. The company expects to see revenues decline further in January 2009 due to weak orders and fewer working days in the month, the sources added.

Taiwan’s leading LED chipmaker Epistar estimates a 38% drop in December 2008 revenues to about NT$400 million (US$12 million), marking the lowest monthly level of 2008, according to market sources. The company expects to see revenues decline further in January 2009 due to weak orders and fewer working days in the month, the sources added.

Epistar had revenues of NT$647.9 million in November 2008, down 28.3% from NT$903.7 million in October, and down 36.43% on year. The company’s accumulated revenues from January to November were NT$9.86 billion, up 5% on year, according to data from the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE).

Epistar’s overall utilization dropped to only 30-40% in December compared to 50-60% in November, according to Shie-Shien Chang, vice president of the company. Chang indicated that some AlGaInP LED production lines were suspended due to weak orders in December, and utilization for the segment was 50%.

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Taiwan’s GPS Makers to See Global Market Share of Over 50% January 7, 2009

Posted by readymarket in GPS, GPS Receivers, online sourcing.
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With global market demand for portable navigation devices increasing to 16 million units in 2007, and a projected shipment growth of 10% for next year, Taiwanese suppliers of global positioning system (GPS) products are expected to command a global market share of over 50% this year, according to government-funded Market Intelligence Center (MIC)

Taiwan’s suppliers of GPS, including such large-sized ones as MiTAC International Corporation, Inventac Appliances Corp., and Quanta Computer Inc., as well as smaller ones including RoyalTek Company Ltd., HOLUX Technology Inc., and Universal Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd., have set up an integrated supply chain in the industry. This also prompts a large-sized international GPS brand Garmin, which has been listed on the U.S. stock exchange market, to build its manufacturing plant in Taiwan. However, MiTAC projects higher market demand for GPS at over 25 million units this year, for an annual growth of 60%. The company expects total shipment to reach 8 million GPS devices, including 4.8 million and 5 million units for Mio- and Navman-branded GPS, respectively, and 3-3.2 million units produced on an ODM basis

MiTAC, focusing promotion on own brand Mio and acquiring another brand Navman lately, projects sales from the two brands to contribute 40% of annual revenue this year from 30% posted last year, and will aim for the world’s No. 2 GPS supplier. On the other hand, the remaining Taiwan-based GPS suppliers still manufacture on an OEM or ODM basis.

Source: CENS

World GPS Market Forecast To 2012 January 7, 2009

Posted by readymarket in GPS, GPS receiver, GPS related products, GPS-based tracking, online sourcing, sourcing.
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Taiwan is attracting major players to set up their production facilities in the country.

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a revolutionary tool, which provides unequalled accuracy and flexibility of positioning for navigation, surveying and Geographic information system (GIS) data capture. Growing use in automotive and consumer applications is propelling the market for mobile location technologies. Although standalone products are quite popular, the most common applications are built around Portable Navigation Devices (PNDs), mobile phones, or car navigation systems.

Moreover, the technology is fast gaining acceptance worldwide, as it is penetrating into previously untapped areas, says “World GPS Market Forecast to 2012″.

The report provides a comprehensive review on the market trends, drivers, challenges, and opportunities that are vital for the success of GPS industry across the world. Analysis is presented for major geographic markets such as the US, Canada, Europe, Japan, and other Asian countries like India and China. The report gives a detailed analysis on the end-user applications, including In-Vehicle Navigation, Survey/Mapping, Machine Control and others.

Key Findings

- Currently, Japan has the highest in-vehicle navigation system penetration followed by North American and European countries.

- The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and Shanghai World Expo in 2010 are expected to trigger an explosion in the commercial telematics market in China.

- With the rapid development of GPS market in countries like China and India, majority of navigation systems are anticipated to be shipped in Asia-Pacific by 2012.

- Taiwan has emerged as a manufacturing destination for GPS products on the global map, attracting major players to set up their production facilities in the country.

- With the growing demand for navigational services, the global market for Location Based Services (LBS) is likely to grow at a CAGR of more than 104%.

- As of 2007, PNDs dominated the GPS device market with more than 90% market share. However, this share is expected to get disturbed by the availability of GPS-enabled handsets that will account for an estimated 78% market share by 2012 end.

- Opportunities remain untapped for various vertical segments of GPS market, like in new advanced access devices, chipset availability, and PND market.

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Taiwan Makers Urged to Join Global Supply Chain of GPS Devices January 7, 2009

Posted by readymarket in GPS, GPS chipset, GPS receiver, GPS related products, GPS-based tracking, online sourcing, sourcing.
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Taiwan’s manufacturers should attempt to forge a link in the global supply chain of automobile products by developing the global positioning system (GPS) navigation business, urged analyst Hung Shih-jieh of the Industrial Economics & Knowledge Center (IEK). The island is already the world’s biggest supplier of portable navigation device (PND) products.

Huang presented his ideas in a recent article about the global development of automotive navigation systems, and suggested that local makers of navigation devices work harder to tap the original equipment manufacturing (OEM) market, especially in mainland China, in order to improve profit margins and avoid price-slashing competition.

Huang feels that Taiwanese suppliers should develop partnerships with international automakers, or with auto producers in China, which has become the world’s second-largest auto market. One possibility is for them to establish links with automakers in China (including foreign ones operating there) first, and then use those links to connect with the global supply chains of international car companies.

Hung divides the global automotive navigation system market into two major categories: OEM on-board units (OBUs), which are built into new cars, and PNDs, which include single-function PNDs, personal digital assistants (PDAs) with built-in navigation functions, and smartphones with navigation functions.

Prior to 2004, Huang noted, most of the automotive navigation system market consisted of OEM OBUs with specifications and functions worked out jointly by automakers and their first-tier parts suppliers. Most of these OBUs were expensive and included as standard equipment on luxury cars, or were offered as options on medium- and low-priced cars.

A drastic change came about in 2005, when the PND entered the market with a much more affordable price tag and a sales boom ensued. In 2006 sales of OEM OBUs grew 16.2% from the previous year to 7.5 million units, while sales of PNDs skyrocketed 102.1% to 19 million units.

Global Automotive Navigation Market Forecast (2006-2010)

Both figures are expected to continue growing. OEM OBU sales are expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8% during the 2006-2010 period, reaching about 12.5 million units in 2010; at the same time, PDNs are expected to grow at a CAGR of 39.2%, reaching 73 million units in 2010.

Hung gives two reasons for the much faster growth rate of PDNs. First, he explains, OBU prices are too high for sales to grow rapidly, although some aftermarket OBUs might win popularity as a result of less expensive prices and better integrity than PDNs. Second, OBUs are optional equipment on most new cars, except for those sold in Japan. This too keeps growth down.

In Taiwan, GPS navigation devices have developed rapidly in recent years and are now much more than talking maps. Auto electronics, consumer electronics, home appliance, information and communications technology (ICT), and telecoms company have worked together to give them a much more diverse range of functions including those of MP3 player, digital photo album movie player, and real-time road-condition receiver. They provide information on navigation, recreation, and entertainment, all in a single unit.

Hung lamented the fact that only a handful of companies in Taiwan have successfully tapped into the global supply chains of major automakers. Compared with OEM OBUs, however, PNDs are developing rapidly on the island. PDN products manufactured on the island are sold under many world-class brands, including Garmin, Mio, TomTom, Navman, and Medion.

Major players in the global OEM OBU market include Aisin AW, Panasonic, Pioneer, Denso, Xannavi, Alpine, and Clarion of Japan; Siemens VDO and Bosch of Europe; and Delphi and Visteon of the Untied States. Thanks to its position of leadership in technology development and its huge auto industry, Japan accounts for about 64% of the OEM navigation OBU market worldwide.

According to Hung, the supply chains of Japanese automakers are often closed and difficult for newcomers to penetrate. Japanese OBU suppliers have the advantage here because of their constant innovation, superior quality, and strong system-integration ability. In addition, most of the Japanese manufacturers (Pioneer, Alpine, Panasonic, etc.) are long-term suppliers of car-stereo systems, and as such are already part of automotive supply chains.

Source from :CENS

GPS Receivers vs. Tracking January 7, 2009

Posted by readymarket in GPS Receivers, GPS-based tracking, online sourcing.
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There is a popular misperception that GPS is a “tracking” technology and therefore that it can be easily misused by public agencies and private companies to monitor people’s whereabouts. In reality, a GPS receiver is just that, a receiver. It knows its location (latitude, longitude, altitude, compass heading, and speed) anywhere on Earth, within about 30 feet. (Differential GPS receivers can achieve an accuracy of a few millimeters.) However, several companies now produce GPS-based tracking devices that couple a GPS receiver with a wireless transmitter, usually using the control channel on a cellular network. These devices relay the position of a vehicle to a tracking center. Someone who purchases a handheld GPS receiver at a sporting goods store or a car GPS receiver at an electronics store need not fear that Big Brother will hence always know her or his whereabouts. However, someone renting a car or a boat might ask whether the vehicle is equipped with a GPS receiver and a transmitter, as rental companies often track their vehicles.

Ready-Market can help you to find a trusted and qualified GPS receiver supplier by using our years of experience on sourcing. Ready-Market, a Procurement Service Provider that has been assisting companies with their strategic sourcing requirements for 20 years. We are dedicated to your needs and your satisfaction is guaranteed.

Visit the web site for full story:http://gps-receiver.ready-online.com