Taiwan's 2Q Smart Cellular Device Shipment to Reach 6.6m Units

(Top News, 9 Jun 2008)

Taiwan's smart cellular device shipment, including smartphones and PDA phones, is expected to reach 6.6 million and 8.4 million units in the second and third quarters of 2008, respectively, growing 114.4 percent and 71.5 percent year-on-year.

According to Taipei-based Market Intelligence Center (MIC), Taiwan's smart cellular device industry is projected to develop in two diverging directions, including high-end and value-line models, with mid-range products gradually phasing out. High-end products, equipped with comprehensive wireless functionalities and personal data management, are expected to target mature markets. Value-line products, boasting multimedia entertainment and basic office applications, are expected to target the emerging markets and encroach upon parts of the high-end feature phone market.

Furthermore, value-line smartphones seem to carve out a niche in the mature markets. Impacted by the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis and depreciation of the U.S. dollar, consumer spending in the mature markets has weakened considerably.

Similarly, high-tagged smartphones have also broken into the emerging markets. For example, through collaboration with Reliance Communications, Taiwan makers have launched two CDMA smartphones in India, priced at 16,500 rupees (US$389.4 at $1=42.4 rupees) and 19,500 rupees(US$460.2).

These two segments have become new growth drivers for the overall smart cellular device industry, and are projected to play very important roles in the expansion of the industry in the next several years.

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