Taiwan's Ralink eyes 20 pct sales growth in 2008

HSINCHU, Taiwan, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Ralink Technology Corp (3534.TW), Taiwan's largest designer of wireless chips, is aiming for 20 percent annual growth in its 2008 sales, thanks to rising demand for laptops and as new products help cut costs.

Ralink expects third-quarter sales to grow 10 percent from the second quarter, despite a slowing global economy hurting consumer spending, Tina Chen, an investment director with the firm, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday.

"The laptop segment is a market where we see stronger growth this year," Chen said.

"If 10 percent is achievable in the third quarter, 20 percent growth should be no problem," she said, when asked about the firm's sales target for this year. Competing with larger rivals such as Intel (INTC.O), Broadcom (BRCM.O), Atheros (ATHR.O) and Marvell (MRVL.O), Ralink shipped 30 percent more wireless chipsets based on the Wi-Fi standard in 2007, with a 10-12 percent share of the global market.

Intel has helped popularise Wi-Fi, or the 802.11 wireless networking standard, by equipping portable computers with it, allowing users to access the Internet in coffee shops or other wireless hotspots. (US$1=T$31.8) (Reporting by Baker Li, Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)