14 DAY TRIAL // With all the success that slates and e-book readers have been enjoying, it isn't that big of a surprise to hear that the sales of parts using in their creation would jump this year, but IDC decided to say just by how much chip shipments will improve.
As consumers know, the tablet market, particularly the segment for media slates, has been growing at an alarming rate.
Already shipments of laptops are being negatively affected and, while Apple's iPad is definitely in the lead, Android-loaded models and even Windows-running ones are available.
In fact, this year is bound to see a nice increase in the amount of different models, what with Intel getting ready to unleash the Oak Trail series of mobile processors.
Meanwhile, NVIDIA is preparing the Kal-El Tegra platform, even as software makers develop better OS versions.
Now, IDC has stepped into the spotlight with the express purpose of outlining just how strong an effect this will have on the semiconductor market.
According to the press release, tablet and e-reader semiconductor revenues will grow by 120%.
"The opportunity for semiconductors in Media Tablets and eReaders has exploded and semiconductor suppliers are scrambling to bring to market semiconductor and software platforms to enable these products," said Michael J. Palma, research manager for Consumer Semiconductor research at IDC.
"Beyond semiconductors, these suppliers are also providing OEMs with much of the system software as well as support for access into app stores, which is helping to dramatically shorten product design cycles."
Touchscreen controllers, WiFi chipsets, sensors, specialized microprocessors, NAND Flash chips, DRAM processors and all other sorts of ICs (integrated circuits) will be driven by higher slate/e-reader sales which, in turn, shall be encouraged by consumer demand.
Of course, it remains to be seen if things truly progress so well, what with the likely shortages expected later in the year, after the disruption caused by the March 11 Japan disaster.