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Market News

REDWOOD SHORES, CA -- Oracle is breaking into the equipment business in a big way, agreeing to buy Sun Microsystems in a $7.4 billion deal. Closing is expected this summer.

STAMFORD, CT – Hewlett-Packard (HP) has strengthened its lead in the global PC market, reeling in 19.8% of worldwide shipments for the first quarter, according to Gartner Inc.

WALLINGFORD, CT – Amphenol Corp. reported first-quarter sales fell 14% from last year to $660 million.

The company blamed currency exchange expenses for 3% ($23.1 million) of the drop.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – The numbers are in from the IPC APEX EXPO trade show in early April and they aren’t pretty.

Overall attendance at the Las Vegas show dropped 34.5% year-over-year, according to figures released today by the show producers.

AUSTIN, TX -- Dell will enter the smartphone market, continuing the PC-cellphone crossover launched by Apple and furthered by Nokia.

According to a pair of analysts, Dell will launch a smartphone in China by the end of the year, Reuters reported.

Dell has thus far declined comment.

The PC maker, the second largest in the world behind H-P, is supposedly teaming with Hon Hai (Foxconn) subsidiary Chi Mei Communications. Foxconn is a major manufacturer of Dell PCs.

A spokeswoman for Red Office, a software company, said the company is in "preliminary development" of the Dell smartphone operating system, Reuters said.

The phone will be introduced in China, and then launched in the US and Europe, the reports said.

Apple was the first major PC maker to develop a cellphone, and Nokia has indicated plans to build low-cost netbook PC.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – An increase in netbook, notebook and high-end handset orders will drive second-quarter revenue for PCB makers up 15% to 20%, according to DigiTimes.

HannStar Board has already reported a utilization rate of 70%, with notebook orders extending 3 to 4 weeks. Unitech Printed Circuit Board is expecting four-week order visibility on smartphone-use PCB orders.

Tripod Technology reported March revenues climbed 15% from February, on demand for notebook, opto-electronics boards and HDI boards.

Gold Circuit Electronics (GCE) is close to reaching full utilization at its Changshu, China plant. Its plants in Suzhou, China and Taiwan are reporting 50% and 75% utilization rates respectively.