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SAN JOSE – Global microchip sales in September were $22.6 billion, an increase of 5.9% year-over-year, the Semiconductor Industry Association reports. Sales were up 5% sequentially.

LOS ALTOS, CA – Driven by strong economic conditions and a continuing wireless boom, world communication equipment production bounded ahead by 12.6% during 2006, according to the latest Henderson Ventures forecast.

However, slower economic growth and a tail off in the mobile communication sector will create a sharp deceleration in equipment growth this year, the firm says.

Global output is expected to increase by only 6%. However, this year’s loss of momentum represents something of a timeout rather than a fundamental change in the fortunes of the communication sector, Henderson reports. In fact, growth rates will accelerate once again, reaching a 10.1% pace in 2009.

Handset growth to ease the mobile telephone industry, including handsets and infrastructure, will be hitting a fundamental roadblock within the next few years, as the number of new subscribers dwindles because of market saturation among global consumers who can afford a subscription, the company says.

And given the forecast for a gradual leveling of the subscriber base, the handset forecast also calls for a slowdown. It is believed that the age of 20+% growth rates are behind us. However, growth rates in the vicinity of 10% through 2009 can be expected.

MORGANVILLE, NJ – CADParts & Consulting LLC has agreed to market the complete Simplified Solutions Inc. offering of subscriptions and products.

The agreement includes the 3D component modeling service, yearly pro/engineer electrical library subscriptions, and libraries of Pro/E and IGES formatted electrical components.

CADParts & Consulting provides an outsource service for all aspects of electronic product design and development.

Simplified Solutions provides products and services to assist in development of 3D PCBs used in product design and analysis tasks.

DORSET, UK – Europlacer, designer and manufacturer of pick-and-place machines, announced the addition of Hexi Reflow Ovens to its product offering.

The Blakell Europlacer Group will also sell the Hexi products in France through its Europlacer Distribution subsidiary.

Hexi Electronics is a Chinese developer and manufacturer of reflow ovens.

The first purchase from UK CEM Northern Hitech has been made.

ATLANTA – UP Media Group today announced the launch of Virtual PCB, the industry's first virtual trade show and conference for the PCB design, fabrication and assembly markets. The premiere takes place Feb. 12-13, 2008.

TAIPEI — Three venture capital fund executives have been arrested on insider trading charges related to Jabil Circuit's acquisition of Green Point earlier this year.

WK Technology Fund chairman Ko Wen-chang, president Ho Cheng-ching and vice president Li Jung-hsun face a minimum seven years in prison and more than $16 million in fines, according to published reports. They also are charged with attempts to block the investigation, forgery and concealment of evidence.

Per the reports, officials claim the men made about $27.4 million from the buyout. The fund was a major shareholder of Green Point, and used subsidiaries to make massive purchases of Green Point's shares ahead of the sale, according to the investigation's chief prosecutor.