Research and Markets: Semiconductor Manufacturers' Desire to Differentiate Products...

Research and Markets: Semiconductor Manufacturers' Desire to Differentiate Products Gives a Leg up to the Global Microcontrollers Market

DUBLIN, Ireland--(Business Wire)--
Research and Markets
(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c90557) has announced the
addition of "World Microcontrollers Market" to their offering.

This research attempts to analyze the World Microcontrollers
Market based on various bit cores such as 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit. It
provides data on market dynamics, revenues and unit shipments of the
three segments. It discusses market, technology and pricing trends for
microcontrollers. Also, it provides an insight into the power
consumption and embedded memory trends associated with
microcontrollers.

Market Overview

Performance benefits are no longer the sole product differentiator
for microcontrollers, as manufacturers are gradually looking to
increase the number of features in order to stand out in the market.
The microcontroller market's increasing tilt toward standard cores
such as the ARM and 8051 has further strengthened efforts towards
differentiation. 32-bit cores from ARM feature a variety of on-chip
peripherals, especially for communications such as universal serial
bus (USB), controller area network (CAN), as well as I2C interfaces
and service provider interface (SPI). There has been a surge in the
number of microcontrollers that integrate flash memory, as most of
their advantages are centered on programmability.

Low-power microcontrollers are in demand because of an increasing
focus on energy efficiency. The profusion of battery-powered
applications is further driving the sales of low-power
microcontrollers. Low power is no longer associated with low
performance due to the current availability of powerful processors in
this segment. "As competition increases in the microcontroller market,
manufacturers are expected to reach high performance pinnacles, while
achieving shorter development times, improved functionality, and
reduced costs," says the analyst of this research. "Integrated
peripherals, on-chip memories, and power performance are some of the
key factors that influence the choice of microcontrollers at present."

Declining Prices Aid the Migration to Higher-end MCUs

While 8-bit microcontrollers are popular among emerging
applications as well as electromechanical replacements, 16-bit
microcontroller units (MCUs) that balance cost and performance are the
processors of choice for many hand-held and portable devices.
Simultaneously, 32-bit microcontrollers have gained traction among new
applications that require a higher level of performance in various
markets. With declining prices, this product segment is expected to
eat into the shares of lower-end MCUs. Affordable prices are also the
reason the Asian region is witnessing a migration to 16-bit
architectures. Its rapidly evolving electronics market makes Asia one
of the fastest growing markets for MCU manufacturers.

However, MCU manufacturers will have to offer more than just a
staggering array of products to lure users away from their current
manufacturer or architecture. Users are reluctant to shift not only
due to reasons of unfamiliarity with new architectures but also
because switching architectures incurs cost and time. The
complications of porting the existing software to the new architecture
and the need for designers to make an initial investment in software
and tools are added constraints. "However, the introduction of
ready-to-use hardware and software development tools at competitive
prices can provide seamless migration to higher-performance
architectures," notes the analyst. "Chipmakers and third-party vendors
need to continue working toward simplifying tool sets and reducing the
costs associated with basic evaluation boards."

Technologies

The following technologies are covered in this research:

-Application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)

-Application server software platform (ASSPs)

-Field programmable gate-arrays (FPGAs)

Market Sectors

Expert Frost & Sullivan analysts thoroughly examine the following
market sectors in this research:

-8-bit microcontrollers

-16-bit microcontrollers

-32-bit microcontrollers

-Flash microcontrollers

Key Discussions:

- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

- TOTAL MICROCONTROLLERS MARKET

- 8-BIT MICROCONTROLLERS MARKET

- 16-BIT MICROCONTROLLERS MARKET

- 32-BIT MICROCONTROLLERS MARKET

- FLASH MICROCONTROLLER MARKET

- APPENDIX

For more information visit
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c90557.

Research and Markets
Laura Wood
Senior Manager
Fax: +353 1 4100 980
press@researchandmarkets.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008