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Kyivstar Concludes Agreement With Huawei On Supplies For Construction Of FTTB NetworkThe Kyivstar telecommunication operator in January 2011 concluded an agreement the Huawei Company (China) on supplies of equipment for building a data network under the FTTB technology (Fiber to the Building).
Ukrainian News learned this from a statement by Kyivstar, the wording of which was made available to the agency.
In particular, the Chinese company will supply to Kyivstar Ethernet-access switch boards of Quidway S2300 series.
The sides do not disclose the terms of the contract.
As Ukrainian News earlier reported, Ihor Litovchenko, president of Kyivstar, said in November 2010 that the development of the FTTB technology will be a priority for the company in 2011.
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Intel and AMD Face Microprocessor StalemateThe world’s two largest microprocessor manufacturers—Intel Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc.—held their ground in the third quarter, with neither company able to wrest significant market share away from the other, according to market research firm iSuppli.
Intel Corp. in the third quarter of 2010 accounted for 80.1 percent of global revenue for microprocessors. Intel’s standing during the quarter was up a slight 0.1 of a percentage point from the year-ago figure of 80.0 percent share, but was down 0.3 of a percentage point sequentially from 80.4 percent in the second quarter.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) lost market share on both sequential and year-over comparisons, but the decrease amounted to less than 1 percentage point. The company accounted for 11.3 percent of worldwide microprocessor revenue during the period, down from 11.5 percent in the second quarter and down from 12.1 percent in the third quarter a year ago.
“In reality, the share changes in the third quarter from the two incumbents were extremely small and not at all significant,” said Matthew Wilkins, principal analyst for compute platforms at iSuppli. “What is significant, however, is that neither company has been able to take any sizable share away from the other. One reason is that each company offers well-matched competitive product portfolios. Another reason is that end markets are not undergoing significant changes in market share of product lineup that would impact microprocessor market share.”
Despite the relatively static dynamics in the third quarter among the two microprocessor giants, Wilkins said the coming months may presage some exciting developments in the market.
“There remains a very competitive situation between the two dominant suppliers,” he said. “In particular, we look forward to seeing the effect that AMD’s forthcoming Fusion products might have on the share situation for these two mega-players.”
Worldwide microprocessor revenues grew 23 percent in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same time a year ago, and 3 percent compared to the second quarter of 2010, according to Wilkins—a rate of expansion that should be considered very healthy growth.
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iPhone 4 Turns up the Volume for Innovative MEMS Microphone TechnologyHighlighted by their adoption in Apple Inc.’s iPhone 4, microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphones are set to achieve a more than 50 percent increase in shipments in 2010 and a fourfold rise by 2014, according to the market research firm iSuppli.
Global MEMS microphone shipments are set to expand to 695.5 million units this year, up 57.7 percent from 441 million in 2009. By 2014, shipments will rise to 1.7 billion units, four times the total for 2009.
MEMS microphones are tiny microphones that employ a pressure-sensitive diaphragm etched on a semiconductor using microelectromechanical technology. They are commonly employed in cell phones, headsets, notebook PCs and video cameras, replacing conventional electret condenser microphones (ECM).
“In a major milestone, Apple in 2010 employed MEMS microphones in the iPhone 4, the first time the company used the technology in the iPhone line,” said Jérémie Bouchaud, director and principal analyst, MEMS, for iSuppli. “Although Apple previously used MEMS microphones in the fifth-generation iPod nano released in 2009, the company exclusively had been employing ECM technology in the iPhone line. With this move, Apple in 2010 will become the world’s second-largest buyer of MEMS microphones, behind Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Apple was the sixth largest buyer in 2009.”
Although they are significantly more expensive than ECM devices, MEMS microphones provide a host of advantages in terms of size, scalability, temperature stability and sound quality.
The iPhone 4 employs two separate MEMS microphones for noise suppression, a technique that reduces background sounds to improve the clarity of voice communications. Although noise suppression has been available since 2006, the arrival of Motorola Inc.’s Droid as well as the iPhone 4 has caused the popularity of the technology—and of MEMS microphones—to soar. The majority of smart phones by 2014 will use two or more MEMS microphones.
The mobile handset market in 2010 is the largest consumer of MEMS microphones, ahead of notebook PCs. Headsets will form the third largest user of MEMS microphones, due to their use by Apple. By 2014, mobile handsets and notebook PCs will still be the largest application for MEMS microphones, followed by slate-type tablets, such as Apple’s iPad.
Since establishing the business in 2003, MEMS microphone pioneer Knowles Electronics has maintained market dominance, with the company set to account for more than 80 percent of shipments this year. The company has benefitted from its strong intellectual property portfolio. However, competition is rising, with three of the world’s five largest MEMS microphone suppliers now being Asian suppliers of conventional ECM—AAC Acoustic Technologies Holdings Inc., BSE Co. Ltd. and Hosiden Corp.—all of which recently added the product to their portfolio. These companies buy MEMS die from Infineon Technologies, package them and sell them, using their existing channels. Analog Devices Inc. is the only other pure MEMS company in the Top 5.
An International Trade Commission ruling in November 2010 should make it easier for newcomers to compete with Knowles. A commission judge ruled that Knowles's silicon microphone patents were invalid.
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Experts: Fluctuation Of Euro’s Exchange Rate Will Not Affect Prices Of Domestic Appliances And Electronic EquipmentThe Association of Domestic Appliance Enterprises is forecasting that the fluctuation of the euro currency’s exchange rate will not affect prices of domestic appliances and electronic equipment.
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NCRC Postpones Introduction Of Rules Requiring Marking Of Imported Radioelectronic And Radiating DevicesThe National Communications Regulation Commission (NCRC) has postponed introduction of a rule that requires marking of imported radioelectronic devices and radiating circuits.
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Nokia Siemens Networks To Acquire IRIS TelecomNokia Siemens Networks and IRIS Telecom, a telecom and engineering services firm headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey, today jointly announced that Nokia Siemens Networks will acquire IRIS Telecom. The acquisition will combine IRIS Telecom’s strong multi-vendor Network Planning and Optimization (NPO) business with Nokia Siemens Networks’ global capabilities, to create a regional leader in telecom services. Subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, the deal should be completed during the first quarter of 2011.
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Intertelecom Reaches Agreement With Alcatel-Lucent On Modernization Of Its NetworkThe Odesa-based Intertelecom company, an operator of fixed-line telephone in the CDMA standard, has reached agreement with Alcatel-Lucent, a Franco-American supplier of telecommunications equipment, on modernization of its network.
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Intellecom Arranges Supplies of Equipment for WiMAX Network with SamsungInternet service provider Intellecom in September has made arrangements with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd (South Korea) on supplies of equipment for the WiMAX network, reads a statement made by the provider.
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Russia Launches Mass-Producing GLONASS/GPS NavigatorsRussian Institute of Space Instruments launches a new automated assembly line for production of portable GLONASS/GPS navigators, which will produce 350 to 400 thousand devices a year.
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Nokia Siemens Networks to Build Global Network Operations Center in RussiaNokia Siemens Networks has announced plans to set up a Global Network Operations Center (GNOC) in Central Region of Russian Federation. Outsourcing network management is gaining momentum in Russia and the CIS. The new GNOC will help telecoms operators across the region to improve the speed, quality and efficiency of their services. Nokia Siemens Networks plans to make a significant investment over a period of five years to develop the center.
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