Bluetooth chip market bouncing with health

THE MARKET for Bluetooth chips is extremely rosy, according to British supplier - CSR (Cambridge Silicon Radio). Estimates for the number of units that will ship this year (2006) range from 550 to 500 million.

That figure compares to 317 million units shipped last year (2005).

"This rapid growth is being driven by increasing attach rates in the important mobile phone segment where CSR is well positioned as well as the continued adoption of Bluetooth in non-cellular applications," claimed CSR's CEO John Scarisbrick.

CSR says it reached its 1500th design win during Q2 and in the first half of 2006 maintained a design win share in the Bluetooth market in excess of 60 per cent.

In terms of mobile phones, it sold Bluetooth chips for 20 new Samsung models, 10 Nokia models, five LG handsets and two Motorola phones. It also saw a trend for Bluetooth to be fitted into more low end phones.

CSR also claims it won 77 per cent of all automotive designs including handsfree designs for Daewoo, Sony and Southwing, plus GPS designs with Thales and Harman International. µ

L'INQ
CSR