Date: 05/02/2012

Mobile-device overtakes computer as top consumer of semiconductor devices

Smart phone, tablet and also the basic mobile-phone alltogether called as wireless devices have overtaken computer in using semiconductor ICs. Apple's iPhone and iPads and Android based mobile devices' success has helped the wireless devices to beat computers.

IHS iSuppli has reported global spending by the world's top OEMs on microchips for wireless products amounted to $58.6 billion in 2011, up 14.5 percent from $51.2 billion in 2010. The world's largest OEM semiconductor spending segment in 2011 is presented in the figure below.

wireless


IHS iSuppli says this is not the first year that wireless spending has been larger than for computers, with wireless having led as recently as 2009. However, 2011 does mark the beginning of a period when the balance of semiconductor spending will shift decisively toward wireless and away from computing. In 2013, OEM wireless spending is projected by IHS iSuppli to soar to $72.9 billion, while computers will remain flat at $53.4 billion.

Wenlie Ye, analyst for semiconductor design and spend at IHS says, the biggest market share-at 24 percent-belonged to the wireless market. The analyst says wireless will continue to generate the most growth during the next two years. A substantial portion of the segment's increase will be due to rising tablet sales, although mobile handsets like smartphones will continue to account for the lion's share of semiconductor segment in the wireless area.

The computer semiconductor spending in 2011 rose by just 4 percent to $53.7 billion, up from $51.8 billion in 2010, according to IHS iSuppli.