The world's first laptop with twin monitors is slated to hit the stores by the end of the year.
The dual-screen laptop, entitled Spacebook, was masterminded by Alaska-based technology firm gScreen.
The pioneering technology, that will let users to multi-task while on the move, will have two 15.4 in screens, reports the Telegraph.
The PC is estimated to cost enthusiasts around 3,000 dollars but not without concerns regarding the weight of the Spacebook and the pressure on the batteries to meet the energy demands of running two screens.
Gordon Stewart, the founder of gScreen, told US technology website Gizmodo, that the gadget could be expected to be up for grabs on Amazon by December this year, provided final modifications had been dealt with.
He said: "We designed this knowing that many may not need the extra screen at all times."
Spacebook is thought to be the first of its kind with twin screens of equal size.
Agencies
Showing posts with label Taiwan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taiwan. Show all posts
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
17% drop in the semiconductor revenue in 2009
The global semiconductor revenue is on course to total $212 billion in 2009, which is a 17.1 percent decline from 2008 revenue of $255 billion reveals a report. The report by research and analysis firm Gartner says that the projection is better than the second quarter projections of a 22.4 percent decline, which shows signs of recovery in the market.
Some of the major semiconductor vendors have reported positive second quarter sequential revenue growth. Intel posted 12 percent revenue growth, while Samsung announced its revenue increased by 30 percent and Qualcomm reported a 35.7 percent increase in its mobile chip sales. "The semiconductor market has performed better than expected, as was evident when second quarter semiconductor revenue increased 17 percent in sequential sales," said Bryan Lewis, Research Vice President at Gartner.
The increasing demand for products using semiconductor was the key driver behind the growth in the market. "Consumers reacted strongly to reduced PC and LCD TV pricing as price elasticity was amazing. The industry also benefited from the China stimulus package that worked remarkably well to boost short-term demand. Governments worldwide took action quickly and extensively to avoid a meltdown and it worked," added Lewis.
Though, the outlook for 2009 has improved, Gartner also points out that all major segments of the semiconductor market are expected to report double-digit revenue declines this year. The application-specific standard product (ASSP) - the largest segment in the semiconductor market - will touch $57.2 billion in 2009, a decline of 16.5 percent over last year's revenue. The memory market is predicted to total $41 billion with a 13.5 percent decline and the microcomponents segment is forecasted to reach $39.4 billion in 2009, a 19.2 percent decline from 2008.
According to Lewis, foundries are concerned that demand may drop off more than seasonal in the fourth quarter, and it may carry into first quarter 2010. Gartner's most likely scenario is a negative five percent growth in the first quarter of 2010, as customers take a break and absorb all the devices they purchased over the previous three quarters.
Agencies
Some of the major semiconductor vendors have reported positive second quarter sequential revenue growth. Intel posted 12 percent revenue growth, while Samsung announced its revenue increased by 30 percent and Qualcomm reported a 35.7 percent increase in its mobile chip sales. "The semiconductor market has performed better than expected, as was evident when second quarter semiconductor revenue increased 17 percent in sequential sales," said Bryan Lewis, Research Vice President at Gartner.
The increasing demand for products using semiconductor was the key driver behind the growth in the market. "Consumers reacted strongly to reduced PC and LCD TV pricing as price elasticity was amazing. The industry also benefited from the China stimulus package that worked remarkably well to boost short-term demand. Governments worldwide took action quickly and extensively to avoid a meltdown and it worked," added Lewis.
Though, the outlook for 2009 has improved, Gartner also points out that all major segments of the semiconductor market are expected to report double-digit revenue declines this year. The application-specific standard product (ASSP) - the largest segment in the semiconductor market - will touch $57.2 billion in 2009, a decline of 16.5 percent over last year's revenue. The memory market is predicted to total $41 billion with a 13.5 percent decline and the microcomponents segment is forecasted to reach $39.4 billion in 2009, a 19.2 percent decline from 2008.
According to Lewis, foundries are concerned that demand may drop off more than seasonal in the fourth quarter, and it may carry into first quarter 2010. Gartner's most likely scenario is a negative five percent growth in the first quarter of 2010, as customers take a break and absorb all the devices they purchased over the previous three quarters.
Agencies
Is Apple iphone set for a launch in China?
Apple Inc is getting closer to clearing the hurdles to start selling iPhones in China, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
It is one of the last major phone markets Apple has yet to tap, the paper said. China is the world's largest mobile market with some 687 million subscribers, the paper said, compared with more than 270 million subscribers in the United States.
But Apple faces competition from other smart phones that are set to launch in China in coming months, the paper said. The company must still complete negotiations with state-owned wireless operator China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd., which is expected to carry the iPhone, the paper said. Analysts told the paper those talks are nearing conclusion. Apple spokeswoman Natalie Harrison declined comment.
Agencies
It is one of the last major phone markets Apple has yet to tap, the paper said. China is the world's largest mobile market with some 687 million subscribers, the paper said, compared with more than 270 million subscribers in the United States.
But Apple faces competition from other smart phones that are set to launch in China in coming months, the paper said. The company must still complete negotiations with state-owned wireless operator China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd., which is expected to carry the iPhone, the paper said. Analysts told the paper those talks are nearing conclusion. Apple spokeswoman Natalie Harrison declined comment.
Agencies
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Does US lag in internet speed over other countries?
The US is lagging far behind other industrial nations in the availability and high speed internet broadband connection, according to the Communications Workers of America (CWA) report.
The report states that the average download speed in South Korea is 20.4 mbps, four times faster than the US average of 5.1 mbps. Japan, Sweden and the Netherlands follow South Korea with an average of 15.8 mbps, 12.8 mbps and 11.0 mbps respectively.
The new research indicates that between 2007 and 2009, the average download internet speed in the US has increased by only 1.6 mbps, from 3.5 mbps in 2007 to 5.1 mbps in 2009. At this rate, it is likely to take the US 15 years to catch up with current internet speed in South Korea, the country with the fastest average internet connection.
The report says, "Our nation continues to fall far behind other countries. People in Japan can upload a high-definition video in 12 minutes, compared to a grueling 2.5 hours at the US average upload speed." The 2009 speed test done by speedmaters.org shows that only 20 percent of those who took the test have internet speed in the range of the top three ranked countries - South Korea, Japan and Sweden. Even more alarming, 18 percent do not even meet the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) definition for current - generation broadband as an always-on internet connection of at least 768 kbps downstream.
Continued job growth, innovation and rural development require high-speed, universal networks. Data shows that for every $5 billion invested in broadband infrastructure to create these networks, 97,500 new jobs in the telecommunications, computer and IT sectors will be created.
Larry Cohen, President, CWA said, "Every American should have affordable access to high-speed internet, no matter where they live. Unfortunately, fragmented government programs and uneven private sector responses to build out internet access have left a digital divide across the country."
The US President Barack Obama has pledged to put broadband in every home and the FCC has embarked on an ambitious project to bring high-speed internet access to every corner of the country.
According to the CWA report, the fastest download speed in the US is in the northeastern parts of the country while the slowest is in states such as Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
Agencies
The report states that the average download speed in South Korea is 20.4 mbps, four times faster than the US average of 5.1 mbps. Japan, Sweden and the Netherlands follow South Korea with an average of 15.8 mbps, 12.8 mbps and 11.0 mbps respectively.
The new research indicates that between 2007 and 2009, the average download internet speed in the US has increased by only 1.6 mbps, from 3.5 mbps in 2007 to 5.1 mbps in 2009. At this rate, it is likely to take the US 15 years to catch up with current internet speed in South Korea, the country with the fastest average internet connection.
The report says, "Our nation continues to fall far behind other countries. People in Japan can upload a high-definition video in 12 minutes, compared to a grueling 2.5 hours at the US average upload speed." The 2009 speed test done by speedmaters.org shows that only 20 percent of those who took the test have internet speed in the range of the top three ranked countries - South Korea, Japan and Sweden. Even more alarming, 18 percent do not even meet the FCC (Federal Communication Commission) definition for current - generation broadband as an always-on internet connection of at least 768 kbps downstream.
Continued job growth, innovation and rural development require high-speed, universal networks. Data shows that for every $5 billion invested in broadband infrastructure to create these networks, 97,500 new jobs in the telecommunications, computer and IT sectors will be created.
Larry Cohen, President, CWA said, "Every American should have affordable access to high-speed internet, no matter where they live. Unfortunately, fragmented government programs and uneven private sector responses to build out internet access have left a digital divide across the country."
The US President Barack Obama has pledged to put broadband in every home and the FCC has embarked on an ambitious project to bring high-speed internet access to every corner of the country.
According to the CWA report, the fastest download speed in the US is in the northeastern parts of the country while the slowest is in states such as Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
Agencies
Sunday, August 23, 2009
LED set to change the display systems
You may soon get to enjoy facilities like flexible high-resolution home theatre displays, wearable health monitors, and biomedical imaging devices because scientists are working on a novel process for creating new classes of lighting and display systems.
John Rogers, the Flory-Founder Chair Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois, has revealed that the new process is all about creating and assembling ultra-thin, ultra-small inorganic light-emitting diodes (LEDs) into large arrays that offer new classes of lighting and display systems with interesting properties, such as see-through construction and mechanical flexibility.
He said that such properties would be impossible to achieve with existing technologies. "Our goal is to marry some of the advantages of inorganic LED technology with the scalability, ease of processing and resolution of organic LEDs," said Rogers.
Compared to their organic counterparts, inorganic LEDs are brighter, more robust and longer-lived. Organic LEDs, however, are attractive because they can be formed on flexible substrates, in dense, interconnected arrays.
Rogers and his colleagues-including collaborators from Northwestern University, the Institute of High Performance Computing in Singapore, and Tsinghua University in Beijing-say that the new technology combines features of both.
"By printing large arrays of ultra-thin, ultra-small inorganic LEDs and interconnecting them using thin-film processing, we can create general lighting and high-resolution display systems that otherwise could not be built with the conventional ways that inorganic LEDs are made, manipulated and assembled," Rogers said.
To overcome requirements on device size and thickness associated with conventional wafer dicing, packaging and wire bonding methods, the researchers have developed epitaxial growth techniques for creating LEDs with sizes up to 100 times smaller than usual.
They have also developed printing processes for assembling these devices into arrays on stiff, flexible, and stretchable substrates.
To create an array, a rubber stamp contacts the wafer surface at selected points, lifts off the LEDs at those points, and transfers them to the
desired substrate.
"The stamping process provides a much faster alternative to the standard robotic 'pick and place' process that manipulates inorganic LEDs one at a time. The new approach can lift large numbers of small, thin LEDs from the wafer in one step, and then print them onto a substrate in another step," Rogers said.
The researcher says that shifting position and repeating the stamping process can transfer LEDs to other locations on the same substrate, and, in this fashion, large light panels and displays can be crafted from small LEDs made in dense arrays on a single, comparatively small wafer.
Given that the LEDs can be placed far apart and still provide sufficient light output, Rogers says that the panels and displays can be nearly transparent. He even envisions the creation of flexible and even stretchable sheets of printed LEDs, which can have potential use in the health-care industry.
"Wrapping a stretchable sheet of tiny LEDs around the human body offers interesting opportunities in biomedicine and biotechnology, including applications in health monitoring, diagnostics and imaging," Rogers said.
A research article describing the researchers' work has been published in the journal Science.
Agencies
John Rogers, the Flory-Founder Chair Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois, has revealed that the new process is all about creating and assembling ultra-thin, ultra-small inorganic light-emitting diodes (LEDs) into large arrays that offer new classes of lighting and display systems with interesting properties, such as see-through construction and mechanical flexibility.
He said that such properties would be impossible to achieve with existing technologies. "Our goal is to marry some of the advantages of inorganic LED technology with the scalability, ease of processing and resolution of organic LEDs," said Rogers.
Compared to their organic counterparts, inorganic LEDs are brighter, more robust and longer-lived. Organic LEDs, however, are attractive because they can be formed on flexible substrates, in dense, interconnected arrays.
Rogers and his colleagues-including collaborators from Northwestern University, the Institute of High Performance Computing in Singapore, and Tsinghua University in Beijing-say that the new technology combines features of both.
"By printing large arrays of ultra-thin, ultra-small inorganic LEDs and interconnecting them using thin-film processing, we can create general lighting and high-resolution display systems that otherwise could not be built with the conventional ways that inorganic LEDs are made, manipulated and assembled," Rogers said.
To overcome requirements on device size and thickness associated with conventional wafer dicing, packaging and wire bonding methods, the researchers have developed epitaxial growth techniques for creating LEDs with sizes up to 100 times smaller than usual.
They have also developed printing processes for assembling these devices into arrays on stiff, flexible, and stretchable substrates.
To create an array, a rubber stamp contacts the wafer surface at selected points, lifts off the LEDs at those points, and transfers them to the
desired substrate.
"The stamping process provides a much faster alternative to the standard robotic 'pick and place' process that manipulates inorganic LEDs one at a time. The new approach can lift large numbers of small, thin LEDs from the wafer in one step, and then print them onto a substrate in another step," Rogers said.
The researcher says that shifting position and repeating the stamping process can transfer LEDs to other locations on the same substrate, and, in this fashion, large light panels and displays can be crafted from small LEDs made in dense arrays on a single, comparatively small wafer.
Given that the LEDs can be placed far apart and still provide sufficient light output, Rogers says that the panels and displays can be nearly transparent. He even envisions the creation of flexible and even stretchable sheets of printed LEDs, which can have potential use in the health-care industry.
"Wrapping a stretchable sheet of tiny LEDs around the human body offers interesting opportunities in biomedicine and biotechnology, including applications in health monitoring, diagnostics and imaging," Rogers said.
A research article describing the researchers' work has been published in the journal Science.
Agencies
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Will IBM develop future chips with DNA?
Scientists from IBM and California Institute of Technology are trying to build the next generation chips- smaller and more powerful, with the combination of DNA and nanotechnology. The experimental breakthrough can be a step toward developing a new technique for making smaller microprocessors beyond the traditional manufacturing processes.
In the past few years, chipmakers have been able to make tinier and powerful products, but this advancement has also pushed the limits of manufacturing techniques. According to IBM, "The revolutionary method, developed at its Almaden Research Center in California and the California Institute of Technology, can help it to make computer chips from the molecule, by arranging DNA structures on the surface of manufactured semiconductor material." Microchips are mainly used in computers, mobile phones and a broad range of electronic devices and, as chipmakers compete to develop ever-smaller chips at cheaper prices, designers are struggling to cut costs.
Spike Narayan, Research Manager, IBM said, "The biological structures like DNA actually offer some very reproducible, repetitive kinds of patterns that we can actually leverage in semiconductor processes. The combination of this directed self-assembly with today's fabrication technology for high-resolution positioning of nano-objects eventually can lead to substantial savings in the most expensive and challenging part of the chip making process." This combination can also help processor designers to keep pace with Moore's Law - the 40-plus-year-old prediction by Gordon Moore that the number of transistors on a chip will double every two years.
The cost involved in shrinking features to improve performance is a limiting factor in keeping pace with Moore's Law and a concern across the semiconductor industry. Currently, the semiconductor industry is able to make processors using 22 nanometer manufacturing technology. IBM is also looking for the DNA to act as scaffolds or miniature circuit boards for the highly precise assembly of chip components, like nanotubes, nanowires and nanoparticles. After using this technique, manufacturers are likely to build 'significantly smaller' chips than has been possible with current semiconductor fabrication technology.
Agencies
In the past few years, chipmakers have been able to make tinier and powerful products, but this advancement has also pushed the limits of manufacturing techniques. According to IBM, "The revolutionary method, developed at its Almaden Research Center in California and the California Institute of Technology, can help it to make computer chips from the molecule, by arranging DNA structures on the surface of manufactured semiconductor material." Microchips are mainly used in computers, mobile phones and a broad range of electronic devices and, as chipmakers compete to develop ever-smaller chips at cheaper prices, designers are struggling to cut costs.
Spike Narayan, Research Manager, IBM said, "The biological structures like DNA actually offer some very reproducible, repetitive kinds of patterns that we can actually leverage in semiconductor processes. The combination of this directed self-assembly with today's fabrication technology for high-resolution positioning of nano-objects eventually can lead to substantial savings in the most expensive and challenging part of the chip making process." This combination can also help processor designers to keep pace with Moore's Law - the 40-plus-year-old prediction by Gordon Moore that the number of transistors on a chip will double every two years.
The cost involved in shrinking features to improve performance is a limiting factor in keeping pace with Moore's Law and a concern across the semiconductor industry. Currently, the semiconductor industry is able to make processors using 22 nanometer manufacturing technology. IBM is also looking for the DNA to act as scaffolds or miniature circuit boards for the highly precise assembly of chip components, like nanotubes, nanowires and nanoparticles. After using this technique, manufacturers are likely to build 'significantly smaller' chips than has been possible with current semiconductor fabrication technology.
Agencies
Monday, July 27, 2009
AMD Subsidiary Building $4.2 billion on New York Facility
AMD's manufacturing subsidiary -- Global Foundries is building a $4.2 billion chip manufacturing facility in upstate New York. With its new facility, the AMD spin-off will now be able to directly compete with archrivals Intel and other semiconductor manufacturers.
According to AMD semiconductor manufacturing remains expensive, and hence outsourcing will increase. However, analysts said it will be difficult for the New York chip foundry arm business (fab) to compete with Taiwanese industry leaders.
Chip manufacturers have posted significant losses in recent quarters because they have been unable to run at capacity.
AMD had launched Globalfoundries as a JV with Abu Dhabi-backed Advanced Technology Investment Company in May, a move that led to Intel accusing it of breaching a 2001 patent cross-license agreement.
The U.S. Company holds a 34.2% stake in the venture and ATIC holds the remaining 65.8%. Their New York foundry is scheduled to begin production in 2012, said the company.
CXOtoday.com
According to AMD semiconductor manufacturing remains expensive, and hence outsourcing will increase. However, analysts said it will be difficult for the New York chip foundry arm business (fab) to compete with Taiwanese industry leaders.
Chip manufacturers have posted significant losses in recent quarters because they have been unable to run at capacity.
AMD had launched Globalfoundries as a JV with Abu Dhabi-backed Advanced Technology Investment Company in May, a move that led to Intel accusing it of breaching a 2001 patent cross-license agreement.
The U.S. Company holds a 34.2% stake in the venture and ATIC holds the remaining 65.8%. Their New York foundry is scheduled to begin production in 2012, said the company.
CXOtoday.com
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Have computer sales dipped by 12%; As cos cut IT spends
Personal computer (PC) sales in India fell about 11.7% during the first quarter of the calendar year to about 2.1 million units as enterprises slowed down IT spending, according to research firm Gartner.
Both desktop PC and laptop sales declined about 11% during the period, as both large enterprises and small and medium businesses delayed their IT hardware purchases.
“Cost pressure seems to have kept away enterprises from spending on IT hardware during the first quarter of 2009, while there are signs of some turnaround in the consumer sentiment,” Gartner principal analyst Diptarup Chakraborti said.
Hewlett-Packard continued to lead India’s PC market, selling about 300,000 PCs in the quarter. The PC maker, however, saw an year-on-year decline in both desktop and laptop sales during the period. HCL Infosystems (200,000) and Dell (158,000) were ranked second and third, respectively. Acer was ranked fourth.
Gartner said it expects PC sales in India to decline 3.7% year-on-year to 8.98 million units this year. The firm had projected sales of 11 million units for the calendar year in the beginning of January, but the first quarter made it revise its projection downwards.
“Production of desktops and laptops has come to near a halt in manufacturing destinations such as Taiwan,” Mr Chakraborti said. PC makers say they saw some growth in new categories, such as netbooks and higher retail sales, in the first quarter but the good news is limited to the consumer space.
“Large enterprises and small and medium businesses are not buying. The e-government projects are also in a limbo with the Model Code of Conduct in place,” Acer India chief marketing officer S Rajendran said.
With the slowdown in enterprise spending, corporate buyers are expected to account for 69% of total PC sales in 2009, down from 71% last year.
The economic slowdown has resulted in a slump in PC sales across the globe. Worldwide PC shipments declined 6.5% in the first quarter of 2009 to 67.2 million units. As per Gartner, the decline could have been steeper but for low-priced laptops such as netbooks.
Agencies
Both desktop PC and laptop sales declined about 11% during the period, as both large enterprises and small and medium businesses delayed their IT hardware purchases.
“Cost pressure seems to have kept away enterprises from spending on IT hardware during the first quarter of 2009, while there are signs of some turnaround in the consumer sentiment,” Gartner principal analyst Diptarup Chakraborti said.
Hewlett-Packard continued to lead India’s PC market, selling about 300,000 PCs in the quarter. The PC maker, however, saw an year-on-year decline in both desktop and laptop sales during the period. HCL Infosystems (200,000) and Dell (158,000) were ranked second and third, respectively. Acer was ranked fourth.
Gartner said it expects PC sales in India to decline 3.7% year-on-year to 8.98 million units this year. The firm had projected sales of 11 million units for the calendar year in the beginning of January, but the first quarter made it revise its projection downwards.
“Production of desktops and laptops has come to near a halt in manufacturing destinations such as Taiwan,” Mr Chakraborti said. PC makers say they saw some growth in new categories, such as netbooks and higher retail sales, in the first quarter but the good news is limited to the consumer space.
“Large enterprises and small and medium businesses are not buying. The e-government projects are also in a limbo with the Model Code of Conduct in place,” Acer India chief marketing officer S Rajendran said.
With the slowdown in enterprise spending, corporate buyers are expected to account for 69% of total PC sales in 2009, down from 71% last year.
The economic slowdown has resulted in a slump in PC sales across the globe. Worldwide PC shipments declined 6.5% in the first quarter of 2009 to 67.2 million units. As per Gartner, the decline could have been steeper but for low-priced laptops such as netbooks.
Agencies
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Over 121,000 Filipinos' jobs axed amid global recession
Over 121,000 Filipino workers have either lost their jobs or suffered pay cuts or reduced work loads because of the economic crisis, a government official said Sunday.
Between October last year and mid-March, 11,574 permanently lost their jobs and 38,806 others were temporarily laid off by Philippines-based companies, Labour Undersecretary Rosalinda Baldoz told an economic forum in this industrial enclave north of Manila.
A total of 59,149 others were placed on flexible work arrangements, she added.
Meanwhile, 12,000 out of the 8.5 million-strong Filipino work force abroad had lost their jobs, mostly in Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Baldoz.
Last week the government said electronics firms based in the Philippines began giving their remaining workers half-pay or 150 pesos (3.11 dollars) a day in a bid to keep them employed until demand picks up again.
The labour undersecretary said the electronics sector was the worst hit with almost half the total work force affected.
The crisis has also hit about 10 per cent of employees in the automotive, garments, mining, property, services, and woodworking industries, she added.
She went on to say the government expects the crisis to bottom out over the next few months as just 397 workers a day were losing their jobs in mid-March compared to 437 at the start of the month.
"Before the first semester ends, we could say that the worst is over," she said.
"In the next five months, workers' displacements will continue but we expect it to be on a slower pace and only in the export manufacturing sector."
Agencies
Between October last year and mid-March, 11,574 permanently lost their jobs and 38,806 others were temporarily laid off by Philippines-based companies, Labour Undersecretary Rosalinda Baldoz told an economic forum in this industrial enclave north of Manila.
A total of 59,149 others were placed on flexible work arrangements, she added.
Meanwhile, 12,000 out of the 8.5 million-strong Filipino work force abroad had lost their jobs, mostly in Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Baldoz.
Last week the government said electronics firms based in the Philippines began giving their remaining workers half-pay or 150 pesos (3.11 dollars) a day in a bid to keep them employed until demand picks up again.
The labour undersecretary said the electronics sector was the worst hit with almost half the total work force affected.
The crisis has also hit about 10 per cent of employees in the automotive, garments, mining, property, services, and woodworking industries, she added.
She went on to say the government expects the crisis to bottom out over the next few months as just 397 workers a day were losing their jobs in mid-March compared to 437 at the start of the month.
"Before the first semester ends, we could say that the worst is over," she said.
"In the next five months, workers' displacements will continue but we expect it to be on a slower pace and only in the export manufacturing sector."
Agencies
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Is Apple developing a touchscreen PC?
Apple will take third-quarter delivery of newly developed 10-inch touchscreens from Taiwan, a source said on Wednesday, amid talk the US firm is developing a touchscreen PC.
Taiwan touchscreen specialist Wintek already makes small screens for Apple iPhones, and has received orders for the larger ones that are roughly the same size as those used in mini PCs, said the source close to the Taiwan firm. He asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to talk to the media.
He added that he did not know what the final product would be, or who would make it.
Wintek spokesman James Chen confirmed Apple was a major client of his company, but declined to comment on any new product development.
Taiwan media reported this week that Apple, which has brought touchscreens to the forefront with the success of its iPhones, is currently developing a touchscreen PC, as lines begin to blur between sophisticated smartphones and traditional PCs.
Some of those reports have said that Taiwan's Quanta Computer, the world's top contract laptop PC maker, would manufacture the actual PCs for Apple.
Apple's Hong Kong spokeswoman, Jill Tan, said the company did not comment on market speculation, while a Quanta spokeswoman also declined to comment.
Agencies
Taiwan touchscreen specialist Wintek already makes small screens for Apple iPhones, and has received orders for the larger ones that are roughly the same size as those used in mini PCs, said the source close to the Taiwan firm. He asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to talk to the media.
He added that he did not know what the final product would be, or who would make it.
Wintek spokesman James Chen confirmed Apple was a major client of his company, but declined to comment on any new product development.
Taiwan media reported this week that Apple, which has brought touchscreens to the forefront with the success of its iPhones, is currently developing a touchscreen PC, as lines begin to blur between sophisticated smartphones and traditional PCs.
Some of those reports have said that Taiwan's Quanta Computer, the world's top contract laptop PC maker, would manufacture the actual PCs for Apple.
Apple's Hong Kong spokeswoman, Jill Tan, said the company did not comment on market speculation, while a Quanta spokeswoman also declined to comment.
Agencies
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
What is hot in the memory chip sector?
Taiwan is setting up a new company to pull together six struggling computer memory chip makers and bring in technology from Japan's Elpida or US-based Micron in a sector suffering from its worst ever slump.
The government expects the move to fend off the industry's dominant players, Samsung Electronics and Hynix Semiconductor of South Korea.
Following are answers to key questions about the market for DRAM or dynamic random access memory:
What does this mean for the global industry?
The consolidation led by Taiwan will leave the $25 billion sector with four major DRAM makers globally -- Samsung, Hynix, "Taiwan Memory Co" and one other company that would be left out of the Taiwan consolidation (either Micron or Elpida).
The reshaped landscape might help Taiwanese suppliers -- which make nearly a quarter of all the world's DRAM memory chips -- to get a stronger grip on output, especially after companies recklessly built up output in the last many years. Elpida may need funds before the Taiwan plan can be implemented.
What is the outlook for Taiwanese chipmakers?
There's likely to be no impact in the short term because it will take about six months to set up the new company, while chipmakers, including ProMOS and Powerchip are still strapped for funds.
The government did not give any specifics on how the new company can bring local DRAM makers together, but any de-listing of a company in such a consolidation could face opposition from shareholders.
In the long term, some analysts say this move might force some of the debt-ridden chipmakers to consolidate their capacity into the new company. Taiwan Memory Co could become a centralised foundry and DRAM makers would diversify into sales and marketing.
The six chipmakers to be involved in the plan are: Powerchip, Nanya Technology, ProMOS, Inotera Memories -- joint venture between Nanya and Micron -- and Rexchip, unlisted joint venture between Powerchip and Elpida.
Is this a chance or threat for Samsung, Hynix?
Benefiting from more advanced production technologies, Korean makers such as Samsung and Hynix could further tighten their grip on the industry, while Taiwan Memory struggles to slowly integrate several companies and technologies into one entity.
Taiwan Memory could end up becoming a formidable threat to No. 2 Hynix, which may have to seek more funding for technology investments. Still, analysts say whether Taiwan's government can inject more funds into Taiwan Memory remains a question.
What is the outlook for DRAM prices?
Even after the government's move, any significant recovery in memory chip prices is unlikely in the short term. So far this year, memory chip prices have been flat but slumped about 50 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year as a global economic slowdown hurt spending on personal computers and other gadgets that use memory chips to store data.
Analysts' forecasts for global PC shipments in 2009 vary, but many expect sales to fall. Research firm IDC expects PC shipments to drop 4.5 per cent this year.
Agencies
The government expects the move to fend off the industry's dominant players, Samsung Electronics and Hynix Semiconductor of South Korea.
Following are answers to key questions about the market for DRAM or dynamic random access memory:
What does this mean for the global industry?
The consolidation led by Taiwan will leave the $25 billion sector with four major DRAM makers globally -- Samsung, Hynix, "Taiwan Memory Co" and one other company that would be left out of the Taiwan consolidation (either Micron or Elpida).
The reshaped landscape might help Taiwanese suppliers -- which make nearly a quarter of all the world's DRAM memory chips -- to get a stronger grip on output, especially after companies recklessly built up output in the last many years. Elpida may need funds before the Taiwan plan can be implemented.
What is the outlook for Taiwanese chipmakers?
There's likely to be no impact in the short term because it will take about six months to set up the new company, while chipmakers, including ProMOS and Powerchip are still strapped for funds.
The government did not give any specifics on how the new company can bring local DRAM makers together, but any de-listing of a company in such a consolidation could face opposition from shareholders.
In the long term, some analysts say this move might force some of the debt-ridden chipmakers to consolidate their capacity into the new company. Taiwan Memory Co could become a centralised foundry and DRAM makers would diversify into sales and marketing.
The six chipmakers to be involved in the plan are: Powerchip, Nanya Technology, ProMOS, Inotera Memories -- joint venture between Nanya and Micron -- and Rexchip, unlisted joint venture between Powerchip and Elpida.
Is this a chance or threat for Samsung, Hynix?
Benefiting from more advanced production technologies, Korean makers such as Samsung and Hynix could further tighten their grip on the industry, while Taiwan Memory struggles to slowly integrate several companies and technologies into one entity.
Taiwan Memory could end up becoming a formidable threat to No. 2 Hynix, which may have to seek more funding for technology investments. Still, analysts say whether Taiwan's government can inject more funds into Taiwan Memory remains a question.
What is the outlook for DRAM prices?
Even after the government's move, any significant recovery in memory chip prices is unlikely in the short term. So far this year, memory chip prices have been flat but slumped about 50 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year as a global economic slowdown hurt spending on personal computers and other gadgets that use memory chips to store data.
Analysts' forecasts for global PC shipments in 2009 vary, but many expect sales to fall. Research firm IDC expects PC shipments to drop 4.5 per cent this year.
Agencies
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Do Indians lag behind in online social networking?
Internet users in the country may be growing substantially, but when it comes to networking online, India has been placed among the nations with least exposure to social networking sites in the Asia-Pacific region.
The US-based internet marketing research firm comScore in a report has said that only 60.3 per cent of internet users in India are used to social networking sites, making it one of the Asia-Pacific countries with least exposure to the activity.
In terms of the penetration of social networking sites, India is ahead of Japan (50.9 per cent), China (45.6 per cent) and Taiwan (42.4 per cent).
According to the report, Singapore has the highest number of social networking site users at 74.3 per cent in the region, followed by Australia (68.3 per cent), South Korea (68 per cent) and Malaysia (66.6 per cent).
Hong Kong and New Zealand have the same per centage of such users at 62.8 per cent, the report noted.
However, comScore said that the number of visitors to social networking sites has increased by 51 per cent in India.
In India, the number of internet users visiting such sites rose by 51 per cent to 19.37 million in December 2008, the report said. The number of visitors stood at just 12.8 million in December 2007.
Agencies
The US-based internet marketing research firm comScore in a report has said that only 60.3 per cent of internet users in India are used to social networking sites, making it one of the Asia-Pacific countries with least exposure to the activity.
In terms of the penetration of social networking sites, India is ahead of Japan (50.9 per cent), China (45.6 per cent) and Taiwan (42.4 per cent).
According to the report, Singapore has the highest number of social networking site users at 74.3 per cent in the region, followed by Australia (68.3 per cent), South Korea (68 per cent) and Malaysia (66.6 per cent).
Hong Kong and New Zealand have the same per centage of such users at 62.8 per cent, the report noted.
However, comScore said that the number of visitors to social networking sites has increased by 51 per cent in India.
In India, the number of internet users visiting such sites rose by 51 per cent to 19.37 million in December 2008, the report said. The number of visitors stood at just 12.8 million in December 2007.
Agencies
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Asian tech firms force workers to take leave
When the global recession began to take a toll on high-tech manufacturers in Taiwan, the factories gave their workers a vacation that many would have just as soon skipped.
Putting workers on forced unpaid leave, often for one or more days a week, is a tactic being adopted around the world as firms seek to cut costs and keep skilled workers on the payroll, even if there is little work to do, so that they will have resources when orders pick up.
“When an economic downturn begins to take hold, employers knee-jerk into making dramatic changes,’’ said Darryl Green, president of Asia Pacific for human resources firm Manpower.
“But there are employers who will stop at nothing to try to retain their valuable workforce. These employers — often in the manufacturing sector where skills are hard to come by — consider innovative alternatives such as shorter working weeks and short-term shut-downs.’’
Employment specialists say the phenomenon is not unique to Taiwan, and is used more broadly by manufacturers in cyclical industries, ranging from electronics makers in South Korea, to car makers in Britain, and manufacturers in Germany.
In Taiwan, the trend of forcing workers to take leave without pay, euphemistically called “unpaid vacation’’ in Chinese, began in the memory chip sector which experienced its worst-ever slump throughout most of 2008.
From there this cost savings measure has quietly spread to other key sectors such as LCD manufacturing and other chips.
In one of the clearest and most sobering signs of the times, TSMC, the world’s biggest contract chipmaker and one of Taiwan’s most profitable tech firms, said this month it will roll out its own forced leave without pay system in 2009. TSMC’s main rival, UMC, is taking similar measures.
Taiwan makes 70 per cent of the world’s made-to-order chips which are used in everything from computers to cell phones and MP3 players. TSMC and UMC, which are the biggest players in Taiwan, saw their collective sales plunge 35 percent in November from a year before, with TSMC posting its worst monthly sales in 3-years.
TSMC laid down the cold reality of its situation to employees in a December 3 letter from CEO Rick Tsai, who said he feared the current economic downturn could last for a “fairly long time.’’
“The company must do its utmost to lower costs,’’ Tsai wrote. “At the same time, we will also do all we can to protect employees’ jobs. Under these circumstances manufacturing departments have decided to take a certain amount of unpaid furlough in December. All other departments will begin to do the same on January 1.”
Sources: Agencies
Putting workers on forced unpaid leave, often for one or more days a week, is a tactic being adopted around the world as firms seek to cut costs and keep skilled workers on the payroll, even if there is little work to do, so that they will have resources when orders pick up.
“When an economic downturn begins to take hold, employers knee-jerk into making dramatic changes,’’ said Darryl Green, president of Asia Pacific for human resources firm Manpower.
“But there are employers who will stop at nothing to try to retain their valuable workforce. These employers — often in the manufacturing sector where skills are hard to come by — consider innovative alternatives such as shorter working weeks and short-term shut-downs.’’
Employment specialists say the phenomenon is not unique to Taiwan, and is used more broadly by manufacturers in cyclical industries, ranging from electronics makers in South Korea, to car makers in Britain, and manufacturers in Germany.
In Taiwan, the trend of forcing workers to take leave without pay, euphemistically called “unpaid vacation’’ in Chinese, began in the memory chip sector which experienced its worst-ever slump throughout most of 2008.
From there this cost savings measure has quietly spread to other key sectors such as LCD manufacturing and other chips.
In one of the clearest and most sobering signs of the times, TSMC, the world’s biggest contract chipmaker and one of Taiwan’s most profitable tech firms, said this month it will roll out its own forced leave without pay system in 2009. TSMC’s main rival, UMC, is taking similar measures.
Taiwan makes 70 per cent of the world’s made-to-order chips which are used in everything from computers to cell phones and MP3 players. TSMC and UMC, which are the biggest players in Taiwan, saw their collective sales plunge 35 percent in November from a year before, with TSMC posting its worst monthly sales in 3-years.
TSMC laid down the cold reality of its situation to employees in a December 3 letter from CEO Rick Tsai, who said he feared the current economic downturn could last for a “fairly long time.’’
“The company must do its utmost to lower costs,’’ Tsai wrote. “At the same time, we will also do all we can to protect employees’ jobs. Under these circumstances manufacturing departments have decided to take a certain amount of unpaid furlough in December. All other departments will begin to do the same on January 1.”
Sources: Agencies
Asian tech firms force workers to take leave
When the global recession began to take a toll on high-tech manufacturers in Taiwan, the factories gave their workers a vacation that many would have just as soon skipped.
Putting workers on forced unpaid leave, often for one or more days a week, is a tactic being adopted around the world as firms seek to cut costs and keep skilled workers on the payroll, even if there is little work to do, so that they will have resources when orders pick up.
“When an economic downturn begins to take hold, employers knee-jerk into making dramatic changes,’’ said Darryl Green, president of Asia Pacific for human resources firm Manpower.
“But there are employers who will stop at nothing to try to retain their valuable workforce. These employers — often in the manufacturing sector where skills are hard to come by — consider innovative alternatives such as shorter working weeks and short-term shut-downs.’’
Employment specialists say the phenomenon is not unique to Taiwan, and is used more broadly by manufacturers in cyclical industries, ranging from electronics makers in South Korea, to car makers in Britain, and manufacturers in Germany.
In Taiwan, the trend of forcing workers to take leave without pay, euphemistically called “unpaid vacation’’ in Chinese, began in the memory chip sector which experienced its worst-ever slump throughout most of 2008.
From there this cost savings measure has quietly spread to other key sectors such as LCD manufacturing and other chips.
In one of the clearest and most sobering signs of the times, TSMC, the world’s biggest contract chipmaker and one of Taiwan’s most profitable tech firms, said this month it will roll out its own forced leave without pay system in 2009. TSMC’s main rival, UMC, is taking similar measures.
Taiwan makes 70 per cent of the world’s made-to-order chips which are used in everything from computers to cell phones and MP3 players. TSMC and UMC, which are the biggest players in Taiwan, saw their collective sales plunge 35 percent in November from a year before, with TSMC posting its worst monthly sales in 3-years.
TSMC laid down the cold reality of its situation to employees in a December 3 letter from CEO Rick Tsai, who said he feared the current economic downturn could last for a “fairly long time.’’
“The company must do its utmost to lower costs,’’ Tsai wrote. “At the same time, we will also do all we can to protect employees’ jobs. Under these circumstances manufacturing departments have decided to take a certain amount of unpaid furlough in December. All other departments will begin to do the same on January 1.”
Sources: Agencies
Putting workers on forced unpaid leave, often for one or more days a week, is a tactic being adopted around the world as firms seek to cut costs and keep skilled workers on the payroll, even if there is little work to do, so that they will have resources when orders pick up.
“When an economic downturn begins to take hold, employers knee-jerk into making dramatic changes,’’ said Darryl Green, president of Asia Pacific for human resources firm Manpower.
“But there are employers who will stop at nothing to try to retain their valuable workforce. These employers — often in the manufacturing sector where skills are hard to come by — consider innovative alternatives such as shorter working weeks and short-term shut-downs.’’
Employment specialists say the phenomenon is not unique to Taiwan, and is used more broadly by manufacturers in cyclical industries, ranging from electronics makers in South Korea, to car makers in Britain, and manufacturers in Germany.
In Taiwan, the trend of forcing workers to take leave without pay, euphemistically called “unpaid vacation’’ in Chinese, began in the memory chip sector which experienced its worst-ever slump throughout most of 2008.
From there this cost savings measure has quietly spread to other key sectors such as LCD manufacturing and other chips.
In one of the clearest and most sobering signs of the times, TSMC, the world’s biggest contract chipmaker and one of Taiwan’s most profitable tech firms, said this month it will roll out its own forced leave without pay system in 2009. TSMC’s main rival, UMC, is taking similar measures.
Taiwan makes 70 per cent of the world’s made-to-order chips which are used in everything from computers to cell phones and MP3 players. TSMC and UMC, which are the biggest players in Taiwan, saw their collective sales plunge 35 percent in November from a year before, with TSMC posting its worst monthly sales in 3-years.
TSMC laid down the cold reality of its situation to employees in a December 3 letter from CEO Rick Tsai, who said he feared the current economic downturn could last for a “fairly long time.’’
“The company must do its utmost to lower costs,’’ Tsai wrote. “At the same time, we will also do all we can to protect employees’ jobs. Under these circumstances manufacturing departments have decided to take a certain amount of unpaid furlough in December. All other departments will begin to do the same on January 1.”
Sources: Agencies
Monday, December 8, 2008
Booster shots for global meltdown victims!
As the global economic slowdown spreads, countries after countries have announced rescue packages. The United States has so far committed $8.317 trillion to tackle the crisis. The United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and the European Union also have announced various stimulus packages.
Here’s a look at the specific fire-fighting measures announced by various countries.
United States
President-elect Barack Obama crafting $175 bn package to create 2.5 million jobs
President George Bush signed a $168 bn, 2-yr stimulus into law in early 2008
Package includes tax rebates of up to $600 per individual earning $75,000 gross income
Declared two stimulus packages worth $ 1.5 billion
Financial Package One
Bill to disburse $700 bn in stages
After the first $250 bn is authorised, President could request another $100 bn
Final $350 bn could be cleared by a further act of Congress
Financial Package Two
Fed will purchase up to $600 billion more in mortgage-related assets
Fed will lend up to $200 billion to the holders of securities backed by various types of consumer loans
Fed will buy up to $100 billion in direct obligations from mortgage giants
US Govt Measures
Up to about $1.8 trillion in Fed purchases of top-rated US dollar commercial paper under a facility launched in October
Up to about $1.9 trillion in new Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) guarantees for banks
Up to $800 billion in Fed support for mortgage and consumer credit markets
Up to $600 billion in Fed purchases of US dollar commercial paper and certificates of deposit under a Money Market Investor Funding
Up to $900 billion in Fed Term Auction Facility loans was offered to meet financial institutions' cash needs
Unlimited commitments to lend through discount window to banks and broker dealers(totaled $296.82 billion as of Nov. 19)
$700 billion for the Treasury to buy equity stakes in financial institutions
Treasury, the FDIC and the Fed have agreed to shoulder up to $249.3 billion in losses from a Citigroup portfolio
Unlimited temporary Fed currency swap lines with the Central banks, Fed maintains $165 billion in swap lines with other banks
Up to $50 billion from the Great Depression-era Exchange Stabilisation Fund
At least $26.57 billion in Treasury direct purchases of mortgage-backed securities since September
$200 billion to backstop Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Up to $144 billion in additional MBS purchases by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
AIG will get up to $152.5 billion in support from Treasury equity purchases
$300 billion for the Federal Housing Administration to refinance failing mortgages
$4 billion in grants to local communities to help them buy and repair homes
$29 billion in financing for JPMorgan Chase's government-brokered buyout of Bear Stearns & Co in March.
France
President Sarkozy unveiled a $32.9 billion stimulus plan
Targeting investment projects rather than directly aiding consumer
Measure to boost GDP by 0.6% by 2009
French package will cost 1.3% of GDP, will push budget deficit to 3.9%
Budget deficit will be above the European Union’s 3% limit
EU allowed the exceed budget limits in 2009
United Kingdom
Prepared a $29.06 bn package centering around consumer tax cut
Announced a range of tax cuts and govt spending over 18 months
Package includes 2.5% cut in VAT to 15%, postponement of corporate increase
Package will increase public borrowing to $178.6 bn next year, nearly 8% of Britain’s GDP
Germany
Unveiled plans worth 31 billion euros or 1.25% of GDP
Govt refusing to deliver tax cuts to help stimulate economic growth
Package will generate investments and new contracts worth over 50 billion euros over 2 years
New lending of up to 15 billion euros will be introduced, strengthen its lending activities
Russia
Unveiled $20 billion economic stimulus package
Package includes cut in profit tax to 24% from 20%
Govt sanctioned state-run banks to support industry with billions of dollars of soft lending
European Union
Fiscal boost amounting to 200 billion euros($260 bn), nearly 1.5% of EU’s GDP
EU commission urges member-states to commit 170 billion euros to their own rescue package
Considering system of guarantees and loan subsidies where credit is tight
Aid to SMEs increased to 30 billion euros from 10 billion Euros
China
Introduced stimulus package worth 4 trillion yuan ($586 bn)
Package mainly for govt spending on infra projects and earthquake-related relief work
Stimulus package to boost domestic demand through 2010
VAT rule changes allows companies to deduct the cost of core investment expenses
Govt increased export tax rebates for wide range of products
Australia
More than $ 12 bn for auto industry, family benefit and domestic residential backed mortgage market
Japan
$51 billion package for new govt spending
Package includes payout to families, tax break on mortgages
South Korea
$25 billion announced till date to ease financial crisis
Taiwan
$30 billion for domestic investment and consumption
Shopping voucher handout about Taiwan dollar 3,600 per citizen
Argentina
President announced $3.7 billion plan to deal with spreading financial crisis.
Source: Agencies
Here’s a look at the specific fire-fighting measures announced by various countries.
United States
President-elect Barack Obama crafting $175 bn package to create 2.5 million jobs
President George Bush signed a $168 bn, 2-yr stimulus into law in early 2008
Package includes tax rebates of up to $600 per individual earning $75,000 gross income
Declared two stimulus packages worth $ 1.5 billion
Financial Package One
Bill to disburse $700 bn in stages
After the first $250 bn is authorised, President could request another $100 bn
Final $350 bn could be cleared by a further act of Congress
Financial Package Two
Fed will purchase up to $600 billion more in mortgage-related assets
Fed will lend up to $200 billion to the holders of securities backed by various types of consumer loans
Fed will buy up to $100 billion in direct obligations from mortgage giants
US Govt Measures
Up to about $1.8 trillion in Fed purchases of top-rated US dollar commercial paper under a facility launched in October
Up to about $1.9 trillion in new Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) guarantees for banks
Up to $800 billion in Fed support for mortgage and consumer credit markets
Up to $600 billion in Fed purchases of US dollar commercial paper and certificates of deposit under a Money Market Investor Funding
Up to $900 billion in Fed Term Auction Facility loans was offered to meet financial institutions' cash needs
Unlimited commitments to lend through discount window to banks and broker dealers(totaled $296.82 billion as of Nov. 19)
$700 billion for the Treasury to buy equity stakes in financial institutions
Treasury, the FDIC and the Fed have agreed to shoulder up to $249.3 billion in losses from a Citigroup portfolio
Unlimited temporary Fed currency swap lines with the Central banks, Fed maintains $165 billion in swap lines with other banks
Up to $50 billion from the Great Depression-era Exchange Stabilisation Fund
At least $26.57 billion in Treasury direct purchases of mortgage-backed securities since September
$200 billion to backstop Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Up to $144 billion in additional MBS purchases by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
AIG will get up to $152.5 billion in support from Treasury equity purchases
$300 billion for the Federal Housing Administration to refinance failing mortgages
$4 billion in grants to local communities to help them buy and repair homes
$29 billion in financing for JPMorgan Chase's government-brokered buyout of Bear Stearns & Co in March.
France
President Sarkozy unveiled a $32.9 billion stimulus plan
Targeting investment projects rather than directly aiding consumer
Measure to boost GDP by 0.6% by 2009
French package will cost 1.3% of GDP, will push budget deficit to 3.9%
Budget deficit will be above the European Union’s 3% limit
EU allowed the exceed budget limits in 2009
United Kingdom
Prepared a $29.06 bn package centering around consumer tax cut
Announced a range of tax cuts and govt spending over 18 months
Package includes 2.5% cut in VAT to 15%, postponement of corporate increase
Package will increase public borrowing to $178.6 bn next year, nearly 8% of Britain’s GDP
Germany
Unveiled plans worth 31 billion euros or 1.25% of GDP
Govt refusing to deliver tax cuts to help stimulate economic growth
Package will generate investments and new contracts worth over 50 billion euros over 2 years
New lending of up to 15 billion euros will be introduced, strengthen its lending activities
Russia
Unveiled $20 billion economic stimulus package
Package includes cut in profit tax to 24% from 20%
Govt sanctioned state-run banks to support industry with billions of dollars of soft lending
European Union
Fiscal boost amounting to 200 billion euros($260 bn), nearly 1.5% of EU’s GDP
EU commission urges member-states to commit 170 billion euros to their own rescue package
Considering system of guarantees and loan subsidies where credit is tight
Aid to SMEs increased to 30 billion euros from 10 billion Euros
China
Introduced stimulus package worth 4 trillion yuan ($586 bn)
Package mainly for govt spending on infra projects and earthquake-related relief work
Stimulus package to boost domestic demand through 2010
VAT rule changes allows companies to deduct the cost of core investment expenses
Govt increased export tax rebates for wide range of products
Australia
More than $ 12 bn for auto industry, family benefit and domestic residential backed mortgage market
Japan
$51 billion package for new govt spending
Package includes payout to families, tax break on mortgages
South Korea
$25 billion announced till date to ease financial crisis
Taiwan
$30 billion for domestic investment and consumption
Shopping voucher handout about Taiwan dollar 3,600 per citizen
Argentina
President announced $3.7 billion plan to deal with spreading financial crisis.
Source: Agencies
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)