STAMFORD, CT — Worldwide PDA shipments totaled 3.7 million units in the second quarter, a 2.7% increase from a year ago, according to Gartner Inc. This was the highest PDA shipment total of any second quarter.
Much of the growth in the PDA market was generated by vendors that were not among the first-tier one year ago, such as Mio Technology, Motorola and Danger Inc. Meanwhile, last year’s first-tier vendors — Research In Motion, Palm, Hewlett-Packard and Dell — have had steady-to-declining shipments.
“The ongoing integration of WAN technology into PDAs, and the marketing push of these devices by wireless operators has produced most of the growth compared to one year ago,” said Todd Kort, principal analyst in Gartner's Computing Platforms Worldwide group.
“The average selling price of PDAs fell by 6% from one year ago to $373, mostly due to aging product lines, the increasing impact of wireless operator subsidies and relatively few new PDAs being launched thus far in 2006,” Kort said. “As a result, worldwide PDA end-user revenue fell by 4.1% from one year ago to $1.38 billion in the second quarter of 2006.”
Much of the growth in the PDA market was generated by vendors that were not among the first-tier one year ago, such as Mio Technology, Motorola and Danger Inc. Meanwhile, last year’s first-tier vendors — Research In Motion, Palm, Hewlett-Packard and Dell — have had steady-to-declining shipments.
“The ongoing integration of WAN technology into PDAs, and the marketing push of these devices by wireless operators has produced most of the growth compared to one year ago,” said Todd Kort, principal analyst in Gartner's Computing Platforms Worldwide group.
“The average selling price of PDAs fell by 6% from one year ago to $373, mostly due to aging product lines, the increasing impact of wireless operator subsidies and relatively few new PDAs being launched thus far in 2006,” Kort said. “As a result, worldwide PDA end-user revenue fell by 4.1% from one year ago to $1.38 billion in the second quarter of 2006.”
BRUSSELS -- The European Union's Technical Adaptation Committee has ruled to exempt lead and cadmium in a half-dozen applications from the RoHS Directive.
Among the expemtions granted was for lead in finishes of fine-pitch components (other than connectors) with a pitch of 0.65 mm or less with NiFe copper lead frames. This could mean a new lease on life for millions of components.
Among the expemtions granted was for lead in finishes of fine-pitch components (other than connectors) with a pitch of 0.65 mm or less with NiFe copper lead frames. This could mean a new lease on life for millions of components.
BANNOCKBURN, IL – On the heels of one of the largest consumer electronics recalls in history, Trade Association IPC will hold a summit meeting next month to develop standards for the manufacture of lithium ion batteries for portable and handheld electronics. The mid-September meeting in San Jose will be hosted by the IPC OEM Critical Components Committee, which includes representatives from Dell, Lenovo and other major computer manufacturers.
“Without a doubt, standardization can and will address the issue of operation and safety called into question by the use of lithium ion batteries,” said John Grosso, chairman of the committee and director of supplier engineering and quality, sub-tier and critical components, Dell Inc. “While the Committee had identified lithium ion batteries as the next product for standardization, we are going to accelerate our activities now,”
According to Grosso, the committee will identify any current standards related to lithium ion batteries with the goal of standardizing design, performance and safety requirements for these batteries.
“Without a doubt, standardization can and will address the issue of operation and safety called into question by the use of lithium ion batteries,” said John Grosso, chairman of the committee and director of supplier engineering and quality, sub-tier and critical components, Dell Inc. “While the Committee had identified lithium ion batteries as the next product for standardization, we are going to accelerate our activities now,”
According to Grosso, the committee will identify any current standards related to lithium ion batteries with the goal of standardizing design, performance and safety requirements for these batteries.
Anthony Hilvers, IPC VP of industry programs added that the committee has recently completed a standard for fans for electronics applications and is also working on standardizing performance parameters for power conversion devices for electronic products.
Flowery Branch, GA – EMS provider Qualcon was recently registered by international standards auditor QMI to the ISO 13485:2003 standard for medical device manufacturing.
Although the company has been manufacturing medical devices for more than six years under its customer’s registrations, Qualcon is now manufacturing complex medical devices for its customers and shipping those devices directly to its customer’s customers. The company also provides fulfillment services to its medical device customers, including new product introduction and repair/warranty depot services.
In March, Qualcon was registered to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Good Manufacturing Practice standards, which ensure that products intended for human use are safe and effective.
Although the company has been manufacturing medical devices for more than six years under its customer’s registrations, Qualcon is now manufacturing complex medical devices for its customers and shipping those devices directly to its customer’s customers. The company also provides fulfillment services to its medical device customers, including new product introduction and repair/warranty depot services.
In March, Qualcon was registered to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Good Manufacturing Practice standards, which ensure that products intended for human use are safe and effective.
SIOUX FALLS, SD -- Raven Industries today reported record sales and earnings for its second quarter ended July 31. Net sales rose 11% to $50.4 million versus a year ago, while net income climbed 7% to $5.1 million.
ESSEX, UK -- Remploy Electronics, a U.K.-based electronics manufacturing services company, will double its capacity this year, an online news source reported.
"Our business is growing and we’re investing. The plan is that we will almost double the size of our business this year," general manager Rick Cook reportedly told Electronics Weekly.
Some of the firm's factories are now running 24/7, he said.
Remploy has board assembly facilities in the U.K., in Barking, Essex and Bolton, Lancashire.
Remploy gets some funding from the British government funded and is restructuring some other non-electronics operations, the report said.
"Our business is growing and we’re investing. The plan is that we will almost double the size of our business this year," general manager Rick Cook reportedly told Electronics Weekly.
Some of the firm's factories are now running 24/7, he said.
Remploy has board assembly facilities in the U.K., in Barking, Essex and Bolton, Lancashire.
Remploy gets some funding from the British government funded and is restructuring some other non-electronics operations, the report said.
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