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STAMFORD, CT -- The economic crisis is having a significant impact on the semiconductor industry, as worldwide semiconductor revenue growth in 2009 is expected to be 1%, down by approximately seven points from previous estimates, according to preliminary estimates from Gartner Inc.

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TAIPEI, TAIWAN– Although third-quarter sales of high-density interconnect (HDI) boards did not meet expectations, rigid-flex PCBs performed much better. Demand for high-end handsets and consumer electronics spurred sales. Market experts are predicting further increases for 2009.

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SECAUCUS, NJ -- Starting Nov. 1,  Panasonic Corp. of North America  launched a nationwide program designed to provide consumers convenient recycling of Panasonic brand TVs and other consumer electronics.

Under the program, consumers can drop off Panasonic products free of charge. Panasonic also will work jointly with public and private recyclers, communities, governments, charities and other organizations.

The venture will cover more than 160 recycling drop-off locations in 10 states, and is slated to expand to all 50 states, with hundreds more sites, over the next three years.

In a press statement, Recycling Group manager Richard Vernam, said, "The program will help to move end-of-life consumer electronics out of the common waste stream and into a separate and environmentally responsible recycling stream."

"The focus of Panasonic's new program will be on consumer convenience and environmentally sound recycling," said Yoshi Yamada, Chairman and CEO of Panasonic Corporation of North America. "The new national program both gives life to our customers' recycling expectations and embodies our company's commitment to responsible product lifecycle management."

The move might also signal a larger emphasis on designing products that are easy to break down and reuse.
LOS ALTOS, CA – Although capital investment outlays will slow, the communications equipment industry will survive the economic downturn in reasonable shape, says Henderson Ventures.
 
Worldwide equipment production will slow from a 6.8% rate in 2007 to a 3.2% pace this year, according to the research firm. A further deceleration will take growth rates to 2.7% next year before rebounding to 9.6% in 2010.
 
China is expected to achieve a solid 9.6% gain this year. Even so, that pales before the 19.8% burst chalked up during 2007, says Henderson.
 
During the past few years, the total number of handset subscribers has mushroomed as prices have plunged to meet market requirements in developing countries. But a dwindling unserved market, along with a poor economic environment during 2009, is likely to result in a drop in new subscribers, the company predicts.
 
Handset shipments are slated to decelerate sharply, as the economic environment encourages cellphone owners to postpone the purchase of upgraded handsets. Shipment growth is predicted to decelerate from 15.1% in 2007 through 7.8% in 2008 to only 3.9% next year.
 
And given the increased emphasis on developing markets, handset revenues are forecast to be stagnant next year. The ongoing financial crisis is expected to be resolved by 2010. Rejuvenated economic growth and a new replacement cycle will create a 9.5% unit gain that year.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – According to IDC, the worldwide mobile phone handset shipments are down compared to previous quarters in 2008 and this signals concern for Q4 sales – when mobile phones typically reach peak sales for the year.

Mobile phone manufacturers shipped a total of 299.0 million handsets in Q3 2008, up only 3.2% YoY and down 0.4% compared to Q2 2008. Historically Q3 experiences a ramp-up in sales in preparation for the holiday season. In previous years this ramp up has created an increase in sales of 20% or more in the third quarter.
 
“Handset vendors felt the pressures of the dismal economy in the third quarter of 2008, and as a result, shipments and revenues were down almost across the board,” says Ryan Reith, senior research analyst with IDC’s Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker.

The market for smartphones, a subset of the overall mobile device market did however posted strong gains for the quarter and continues to dominate the growth in this sector.
 
The industry leader is Nokia with shipments higher than Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Motorola combined. Samsung has jumped in second place, shipping over fifty million units in Q3. Sony Ericsson takes third place worldwide for the first time in its history. Motorola’s volumes were still a fraction of what they used to be and the division posted another quarter of operating loss as the eke out fourth place. Finally, LG Electronics sank into fifth place during the quarter.
SAN JOSE, CA– Tessera Technologies Inc. has released its third-quarter results. Net loss was reported at $5.4 million, or $0.11 per share.
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