SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Small office (one to four employees) spending on broadband IP telephony will increase 83% from 2010 to 2015, says In-Stat.

“Broadband IP telephony offers a number of advantages for small businesses and SOHO; primary among them is the low monthly service fee and negligible costs for long distance,” says Greg Potter, research analyst. “Unfortunately it does not provide the scalability associated with hosted and IP PBX solutions. It also does not typically come with the service level agreements and quality-of-service afforded by other solutions, which are general requirements for enterprise and medium-sized businesses.”

Also, traditional TDM is set to decline to just under $14.5 billion in 2015.

Application-based VoIP will increase more than 50% from 2010 to 2015.

As a segment, mid-sized business (100 to 999 employees) spending will have the greatest growth, increasing in excess of 10% between 2010 and 2015.

And the professional services vertical market segment will spend more than $3 Billion in 2013, says the research firm.

HONG KONG – World Semiconductor Trade Statistics expects the global semiconductor market to increase 5.4% in 2011, 7.6% in 2012 and 5.4% in 2013.

The WSTS forecasts the semiconductor market to reach $338.4 billion in 2012, following an increase to $314.4 billion in 2011.

The industry is now expected to top $356.6 billion in 2013, with a three-year CAGR of 6.13% from 2010 to 2013.

In 2010, the industry recovery – driven by enterprise and consumer spending – resulted in 31.8% growth, totaling $298.3 billion. 

FRAMINGHAM, MA – Worldwide semiconductor revenues will grow 5% year-over-year in 2012 and will achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% through 2015, said International Data Corp. in its semiannual forecast.

TORONTO -- Celestica reported second-quarter net profits more than tripled over last year to $45.7 million, but said economic volatility would continue to affect customer demand.

SAN JOSE – Flextronics on Thursday reported fiscal first-quarter net sales of $7.55 billion, up 15% year-over-year.

WASHINGTON – The State Department has released a document that guides commercial entities concerning the legislation involving conflict mineral requirements.

The Department says it is “critical” to “begin now to perform meaningful due diligence,” even though guidance could be revised after final regulations are issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission later this year.

State is encouraging firms to begin immediately to structure supply chain relationships in a responsible manner to encourage conflict-free trade, including conflict-free minerals sourced from the DRC and the Great Lakes region.

Conflict minerals include columbite-tantalite (coltan), cassiterite, gold, wolframite and derivatives.

Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, certain persons who use these minerals must disclose to the SEC whether those minerals originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or a nearby country, where mining has aided in the finances ongoing civil war and related human rights violations.
The department specifically endorses the guidance issued by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The OECD framework includes the following: establish strong company management systems, identify and assess risk in the supply chain, design and implement a strategy to respond to identified risks, carry out independent third-party audit of supply chain due diligence at identified points in the supply chain, and report on supply chain due diligence.

NEENAH, WI – Plexus Corp. today reported third-quarter 2011 revenue of $559.2 million, up 4.3% year-over-year and down 1.6% sequentially.

The electronics manufacturing services firm previously guided between $550 million and $580 million.

TOKYO – The 90-day average orders at Japan-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers in June fell 11.3% from last year to ￥99.8 billion ($1.27 billion).

SAN JOSE – Bookings at North America-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers fell 10.3% year-over-year in June, a leading trade group said today.

BILLINGSTAD, NORWAY -- Kitron, a Top 50 EMS firm, swung to a second-quarter profit of NOK 5.45 million ($839,000), from a loss a year ago of NOK 2.95 million.

OXFORD, CT – MIRTEC said sales revenue for its North American Sales and Service Division in the first half of 2011 grew 43% year-over-year.

“A growing number of EMS providers are beginning to invest in new SMT manufacturing equipment capable of meeting today’s higher standards of productivity and accuracy. Manufacturers have become ever more selective in purchasing new AOI technology that will provide them with a much needed competitive edge in dealing with their most demanding production requirements,” said Brian D’Amico, president of MIRTEC.

 “Our company invests heavily in research and development, persistently focused on using state-of-the-art optics, lighting and laser technology.”

TAIPEI -- A large contingent of key Foxconn notebook PC researchers have bolted for the competition, a Taiwan-based media outlet said today.