It's time to wrap up 2007—celebrate success and take lessons from mistakes—and prepare to take the wraps off 2008. Overall, this has been a slow year in terms of chip sales. The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) estimates global sales of $257.1 billion in 2007, a mere 3.8 percent increase over the 2006 sales of $247.7 billion.

The SIA has better tidings in store for next year, projecting $276.9 billion in 2008 or an increase of 7.7 percent over this year. The association even goes as far as to predict 7 to 8 percent growth rates up to 2010, when worldwide semiconductor sales could cross $321 billion. Asia-Pacific is expected to continue to be the fastest-growing regional market, growing from a share of 48.4 percent this year to 51.1 percent in 2010.

The SIA stated that consumer electronics sales was the driving factor behind the growth in 2007. PCs, cellphones, MP3 players and DTVs saw strong sales. The SIA noted that PC sales, which accounts as the largest single market for microchips, are now expected to grow by 11-12 percent in 2007. Cellphone shipments are forecasted to grow by 12 percent; MP3 and personal media player unit sales by 20 percent; and DTVs by an explosive 50 percent.

Other research firms have similar findings about the application segments. In general, consumer audio/video—particularly DTVs, cellphones and automotive electronics including infotainment— are segments performing well and showing signs of potentially robust growth.

For instance, iSuppli Corp. forecasts that the overall global DTV chip market, comprising LCD TVs, plasma sets, CRTs and rearprojection TVs will grow from the 77.4 million units shipped in 2006 to 230 million units by 2011. Semiconductor revenue for A/V boards used in DTV sets will grow to $8.8 billion in 2011, rising at a CAGR of 19.4 percent from $3.62 billion in 2006.

With about $40 average semiconductor content in each cellphone (SIA's estimate for 2006), the mobile handset still commands a significant portion of the semiconductor market. And the firm says 29.6 percent of all mobile phones shipped will have GPS capability, up from 11.1 percent in 2006.

IMS Research predicts the worldwide OEM automotive electronic systems to grow at a CAGR of 2.5 percent. The combined market share accounted for by China, Eastern Europe, South America and "Rest of the World" is forecast to increase from 15 percent to 25 percent over the same period.

For us at EE Times-Asia, these statistics are not only information we provide you, but they are indicators for planning highly relevant technical papers and features next year.

Thus, the editors have scheduled a Spotlight section on video imaging in the Jan. 16-31 issue; another on audio in Feb.16-29 and several technical papers covering audio design, display drivers/ controllers, DTV, advanced video interface and video/image processors. In the Feb.1-15 issue, we will run an embedded design section on automotive and technical papers on automotive MCUs, FlexRay, in-car infotainment and car sensors. The Mar. 1-15 issue will shine with a Spotlight section on RF/antenna design, and the May 1-15 issue on cellphone design. Technical papers on WiMAX, Mobile TV, GPS and RF/IF components will complement the communications segment.

EE Times-Asia wishes you a successful 2008.

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