Chip Designers in mainland China and Taiwan are Shifting to Advanced Process Technologies -- 0.18-micron Designs Gaining Momentum HONG KONG, Oct. 8 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Global Sources Ltd. (NASDAQ:GSOL) and Gartner Inc. (NYSE: IT; ITB) today announced the results of their annual joint study, Design Trends & Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Tools: Mainland China & Taiwan, which indicates growing use of finer process technologies in the design of standard integrated circuits (ICs) and Application-Specific ICs (ASICs) in mainland China and Taiwan. (Logos: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030303/LNM011LOGO-b http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041008/HKF003LOGO ) Finer process technologies enable the production of highly integrated, compact components, which can then be used to make smaller, more efficient electronic devices. The survey shows while 0.35 microns remains the mainstream technology for standard ICs in Taiwan, 27 percent of Taiwan respondents already engage in 0.18-micron designs. In mainland China, 33 percent of respondents design at 0.18 microns. In ASIC design, 0.18 microns has also become more prevalent, with 35 percent of mainland respondents and 49.5 percent of Taiwan respondents working with 0.18-micron designs. Design Trends & EDA Tools: Mainland China & Taiwan presents findings from an online survey of 607 mainland China engineers and 321 Taiwan-based engineers. It identifies and compares trends in electronic design and in the use of EDA tools in mainland China and Taiwan. The research is the fourth such joint initiative by Global Sources' biweekly design publication, Electronic Engineering Times-Asia (EE Times-Asia) and Gartner, a leading market research firm. Consumer electronics, communications lead applications The joint study highlights the importance of consumer electronics applications for Taiwan designs, with 32 percent of Taiwan respondents citing it as the segment where their designs are most often used. Communications came second, at 19 percent; and computers and computer peripherals was third, at 18 percent. EE Times-Asia publisher, Mark A. Saunderson, said: "This finding demonstrates the shift in focus among Taiwan engineers that we first saw in the 2003 Design Trends & EDA Tools: Mainland China & Taiwan survey. In 2002, most Taiwan respondents considered computers their primary application segment.' In mainland China, communications applications dominate design, a result similar to that of last year. Nearly 29 percent of survey respondents cited communications as their primary area of application, followed by industrial, instruments and medical applications at 21 percent, and consumer electronics at 19 percent. Engineers use range of EDA tools Surveyed designers rely on a number of EDA tools in their work. The most popular tools among mainland China respondents are those used for PCB layout (used by 66 percent of respondents); logic synthesis (39 percent); and timing analysis (37 percent). In Taiwan, the top tool category is also PCB layout, used by 49 percent of respondents, followed by analog simulation at 41 percent; and logic synthesis at 38 percent. Nancy Wu, an analyst at Gartner Dataquest's design and engineering group, said: 'Our 2004 updated forecast indicates that the EDA software and software maintenance market will achieve revenues of $4.192 billion this year, an increase of 7.4 percent from $3.903 billion in 2003. The market is expected to grow at a 12.5 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach $7.025 billion in 2008. And Asia-Pacific will outpace other regions with a 17 percent CAGR through 2008.' The joint research also compared design-to-prototype lead times, gate counts, number of design iterations and other key parameters of electronics design. For a more detailed analysis of the results, visit EE Times-Asia online at http://www.eetasia.com/ . About Global Sources Global Sources is a leading business-to-business (B2B) media company that facilitates global trade, with a particular focus on the China market, by providing information to international buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers. We deliver content to our communities through our leading network of nine vertical marketplaces and 13 geographic portals, and through magazines, CD- ROMs and private catalogs, as well as China Sourcing Fairs and technical events. Our flagship marketplace, Global Sources Online (http://www.globalsources.com/), hosts more marketing and sourcing activity than any other global merchandise trade marketplace. We serve a growing, independently certified community of more than 413,000 active buyers in over 230 countries and territories. These buyers generate more than 4 million inquiries annually for over 130,000 suppliers through Global Sources Online alone. We offer extensive creative services and export consultation through 150 client service officers in Greater China and other leading supply markets, and through our 700 sales representatives who make approximately 40,000 supplier visits monthly. In mainland China, we have 22 years on-the-ground presence, supported by over 1,000 team members in 44 locations throughout the country. Global Sources' solutions are based on 33 years as a trade magazine publisher serving the global trade community, 13 years as a trade management software developer, 12 years as manager of trade shows in Asia, and eight years as an online marketplace operator. Electronic Engineering Times-Asia is published by eMedia Asia Ltd., a joint venture between Global Sources and CMP Media LLC., a leading integrated media company providing essential information and marketing services to the entire technology spectrum. The joint venture is a leading provider of new technology content, in print and online for the 150,000-plus technology specialists that drive the electronics industry in China and Asia. eMedia Asia Ltd. serves this community's ongoing need for the right information, at the right time through its integrated, local-language web networks, premier technical events and industry leading publications -- Electronics Supply & Manufacturing-China and Electronic Engineering Times-Asia. About Gartner, Inc. Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT; ITB) is the leading provider of research and analysis on the global information technology industry. Gartner serves more than 10,000 clients, including chief information officers and other senior IT executives in corporations and government agencies, as well as technology companies and the investment community. The Company focuses on delivering objective, in-depth analysis and actionable advice to enable clients to make more informed business and technology decisions. The Company's businesses consist of Gartner Intelligence, research and events for IT professionals; Gartner Executive Programs, membership programs and peer networking services; and Gartner Consulting, customized engagements with a specific emphasis on outsourcing and IT management. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and has more than 3,500 associates, including approximately 1,000 research analysts and consultants, in more than 75 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.gartner.com/ . CONTACT: Global Sources contact in US: James Strachan Tel: +1-602-978-7504 Fax: +1-602-978-7512 Email: Global Sources Investor contact: Kirsten Chapman & Moriah Shilton, Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc. Tel: +1-415-433-3777 Fax: +1-415-433-5577 Email: Global Sources contact in Asia: Camellia So Tel: +852-2555-5023 Fax: +852-2518-8764 Email: Gartner contact: Tom McCall Tel: +1-408-468-8101 Fax: +1-408-468-8076 Email: Web Sites: http://www.globalsources.com http://www.eetasia.com http://www.gartner.com http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030303/LNM011LOGO-b http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041008/HKF003LOGO DATASOURCE: Global Sources Ltd. CONTACT: James Strachan, +1-602-978-7504, or fax, +1-415-433-5577, , or Camellia So, +852-2555-5023, or fax, +852-2518-8764, or , both of Global Sources; or Kirsten Chapman & Moriah Shilton of Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc., +1-415-433-3777, or fax, +1- 415-433-5577, or , for Global Sources; or Tom McCall of Gartner, +1-408-468-8101, or fax, +1-408-468-8076, or

Copyright