Morton’s Weblog

剛剛正在浴室放水，結果弟弟在喊有地震，如此音量中帶有慌亂的叫喊實在有辱曾久居花蓮的我們呀～

關上水龍頭步出浴室，哇！！！整個晃到不行，真的有嚇到！我媽也從後陽台衝進客廳，三個花蓮人還在錯愕中。真的是頗大耶，來新竹這麼多年後這應該是我第一次感覺真的晃到能嚇人的地震。那個中大的研究實驗不算，而且也沒那麼晃。

馬上就打電話慰問親友，一連撥三通第一通失敗嘟嘟嘟，第二、三通手機都直接秀系統繁忙，腦海中直接浮現思考：應該是收了 RRC CONNECTION REJECT 然後 cause 帶 congestion …。（謎之聲：喂～ 你的手機是 Nokia 6300 ㄋㄟ…）

然後終於也深深體會到，為什麼 NTT DoCoMo 會早在 2004 年就把 DSAC 功能加到他們 PDC 系統（日本的第二代行動通訊系統）的 Protocol Stack 中 … 像今晚就派上用場了。FOMA 使用後更加證明其實用性與優點，就在 R6 正式加到 3GPP specifications 中。

總之，好大的地震啊～ 希望大家都平安沒事～

PS：地球一家，這篇還沒寫完，紐時馬上播報台灣被地震襲擊：Major Earthquake Strikes Taiwan; Rattles Buildings

Patent sharing agreement

MOBILE CHIP DESIGNERS Qualcomm and Mediatek have inked a broad patent sharing deal.

The agreement will give both firms access to a range of each others wireless communication technologies, including CDMA and WCDMA patents and products.

Although no details were given about what the companies may be working on together, with Qualcomm‘s strength in communication technology and Mediatek‘s work in digital media processing, the combined efforts of the two firms could create a real powerhouse in the increasingly popular realm of media focused portable devices capable of streaming high quality content from online sources.

Despite the fact that Mediatek is a fabless semiconductor firm, it did stress that its customers will not have the same rights to access Qualcomm‘s patents and will need to obtain a separate license where necessary.
　
　
By Ian Williams, the INQUIRER.

SAN FRANCISCO — Fabless chip vendors Qualcomm Inc. and MediaTek Inc. have agreed to let each other utilize technology covered by their respective patent portfolios, the companies said Thursday (Nov. 19).

Under the terms of the arrangement, Qualcomm (San Diego) and MediaTek (Hsinchu, Taiwan) have agreed, subject to certain conditions, not to assert certain patents against each other with respect to some of their respective chips, the companies said.

The deal includes essential CDMA and WCDMA patents held by Qualcomm, the companies said.

MediaTek‘s customers do not receive rights to any of Qualcomm‘s patents and Qualcomm‘s customers do not receive rights to any of MediaTek‘s patents, even if such customers’ products incorporate chips purchased from Qualcomm or MediaTek, the companies said.

Other terms of the agreements remain confidential, the companies said.

Qualcomm has extensive patents around CDMA and WCDMA which generate billions of dollars in revenue for the company each year. For its most recently concluded quarter, Qualcomm reported licensing revenue of $837 million.
　
　
Dylan McGrath, EE Times

TAIPEI (Dow Jones) — Chip designer MediaTek Inc. (2454.TW) and U.S.-based Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) said Friday they had agreed on a patent arrangement covering chips used in Wideband Code Division Multiple Access and Code Division Multiple Access networks.

Because the agreement is only between the two companies, MediaTek‘s customers would need to obtain a separate license from Qualcomm to receive rights to any of Qualcomm‘s patents, and Qualcomm‘s customers would need to obtain a separate license from MediaTek to receive rights to any of MediaTek‘s patents, said an official at MediaTek who declined to be named.

The agreement will allow MediaTek to sell handset chips for the W-CDMA standard, a mainstream third-generation technology, said Jessica Chang, an analyst at Credit Suisse.
　
　
- By Jessie Ho, Dow Jones Newswires; 88622 502-2557; jessie.ho@dowjones.com

SAN DIEGO AND HSINCHU — November 19, 2009 — Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), a leading developer and innovator of advanced wireless technologies, products and services, and MediaTek, Inc., (TPE: 2454), a leading fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions, today announced that they have entered into a broad patent arrangement under each company’s patent portfolios, including CDMA and WCDMA essential patents, with respect to all integrated circuit products, including CDMA and WCDMA products.

MediaTek‘s customers do not receive rights to any of Qualcomm‘s patents and such customers will need to obtain a separate license from Qualcomm in order to receive rights to any of Qualcomm‘s patents. Qualcomm‘s customers do not receive rights to any of MediaTek‘s patents and such customers will need to obtain a separate license from MediaTek in order to receive rights to any of MediaTek‘s patents. The remainder of the terms of the arrangement are confidential.

MediaTek Inc. is a leading fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions. The company is a market leader and pioneer in cutting-edge SOC system solutions for wireless communications, high-definition TV, optical storage, DVD and Blu-ray products. Founded in 1997 and listed on Taiwan Stock Exchange under the code “2454″, MediaTek is headquartered in Taiwan and has sales and research subsidiaries in Mainland China, Singapore, India, U.S., Japan, Korea, Denmark and England. For more information, please visit MediaTek‘s website at www.mediatek.com.

Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Qualcomm is included in the S&P 100 Index, the S&P 500 Index and is a 2009 FORTUNE 500® company. For more information, please visit www.qualcomm.com.

Qualcomm Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the Company’s ability to successfully design and have manufactured significant quantities of CDMA components on a timely and profitable basis, the extent and speed to which CDMA is deployed, change in economic conditions of the various markets the Company serves, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 27, 2009, and most recent Form 10-Q.
　
　
Qualcomm is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners

Qualcomm Contacts:
Tina Asmar, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-845-5959
Email: corpcomm@qualcomm.com

John Gilbert, Investor Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
Email: ir@qualcomm.com
　
　
MediaTek Contacts:
Sharon Lo, Public Relations
Phone: +88-3-567-0766 ext. 21435
Email: pr@mediatek.com

Sophia Liang, Investor Relations
Phone: +886-3-567-0766 ext. 26568
Email: ir@mediatek.com
　
　
—
From Qualcomm News and Events: MediaTek and Qualcomm Enter Into Patent Arrangement

近一年包括觸控面板模組及晶片的價格跌幅高達 50%，讓先前以技術領先自豪的新思國際（Synaptics）及義隆電，雖然搶到了先機，卻因市場成長過快，加上公司力人不足而漸讓出領先優勢。

若以 iPhone 觸控面板及 IC 價格為指標，1 年前 3.5 吋觸控面板模組報價仍在 16 ~ 18 美元，晶片價格亦在 4 到 5 美元間。不過，時到今日，隨模組廠生產良率已有效改善，加上晶片市場競爭者如雨後春筍般冒出，目前 3.5 吋觸控面板模組價格已可壓在 9 ~ 11 美元間，晶片報價亦在 2 美元以下。

由此可見，面對觸控面板功能已全數侵入手機、NB、MP3、MP4 及 DSC 等消費性電子產品身上，甚至被列為必備功能後，觸控面板市場需求在 2009 年的大爆發及 2010 年的高成長，已可樂觀預期。

不過，相較於全球觸控面板市場需求的快速成長，原先在觸控 IC 市場明顯領先的 Synaptics 及義隆電卻沒討到多大的便宜，反而因晶片及模組價格直直落的走勢，有點將技術領先優勢拱手讓出的味道。

Synaptics 是全球 NB 觸控板第一大模組及晶片供應商，並曾與蘋果合作開發第一代 iPod 的觸控產品，在內部研發團隊成功與三星電子（Samsung Electronics）、LG 及 HTC 一同推出觸控手機產品，並可望擔綱諾基亞（Nokia）最新 X 系列手機觸控 IC 供應商後，Synaptics 在 2009 年營收持續增長，並橫跨 NB、手機觸控 IC 及模組市場，也穩坐全球第一大廠的地位，好不風光。

不過，看似風光的背後，卻因為觸控面板模組市場出現台廠積極介入跡象而導致價格如自由落體般下滑，加上台系觸控模組廠並不願意採用也生產晶片，也生產模組的半競爭對手解決方案，讓 Synaptics 先前統包晶片及模組的競爭優勢，反而成為包袱，在諾基亞（Nokia）這次只採用 Synaptics 晶片，並未連模組一同採購下，Synaptics 似乎該考慮未來模組生產線繼續存在的價值。

此外，其他競爭對手，如 Cypress、博通（Broadcom）、愛特梅爾（Atmel）相關產品線也越來越成熟的情形，當然讓觸控 IC 價格產生另外一種壓力。其中，Cypress 已陸續搶下 LG、BlackBerry 及 Palm Pre 等多款指標性產品訂單，Broadcom 更早一步與蘋果（Apple）iPhone 產品合作，在觸控 IC 解決方案上，也有其獨到之處，至於 Atmel 則殺進大陸白牌手機市場，同樣有不錯成績表現。

除國外晶片供應商也揮軍殺入全球觸控 IC 市場外，台系 IC 設計業者，包括迅杰、聯陽、矽統、偉詮電、原相、禾瑞亞、瀚瑞微電子，及盛群也各自懷抱自己的夢想，切入觸控 IC 技術領域。甚至是一再謙虛自己手機晶片產品線中的觸控功能解決方案，將不排除尋求外援的聯發科，也在日前石破天驚宣布自家觸控 IC 已獲得歐洲最大電信營運商 Vodafone 採用，觸控 IC 技術的發展已進入戰雲密布的時代。

觸控晶片報價走勢

全球觸控晶片市場先前其實沒有固定的價格，唯一的指標產品是 Apple 旗下 3.5 吋多指化觸控螢幕的 iPhone，至於晶片領導商 － 新思國際（Synaptics），之前也是採用模組及 IC 一同出貨的方式來銷售，在希望客戶儘量採購模組下，觸控 IC 報價一度高達 5 美元以上，佔整個模組成本的 30% 多。

近年來，3.5 吋觸控模組報價已從先前 16 到 18 美元，快速下滑到 9 ~ 11 美元後，加上晶片供應商積極切入，在晶片合理成本應該僅佔整個模組的 20 ~ 25% 強，觸控 IC 目前報價多已在 2 美元以下。
　
　
電子時報　趙凱期

Shares of MediaTek Inc (聯發科) rallied to nearly a two-year high yesterday after the nation’s biggest mobile phone chipmaker said European telecom operator Vodafone would use its chips for two new phones.

That may take MediaTek one step closer to its goal of increasing orders from major global mobile phone makers such as Nokia after the Hsinchu-based chipmaker built a strong market position in China by offering affordable chips to non-brand mobile phone makers.

Shares of MediaTek increased 2.32 percent, or NT$12, to close at NT$529 yesterday, the highest level since a high of NT$633 on Oct. 31, 2007. The benchmark TAIEX inched up 0.68 percent.

“We are particularly excited about the partnership with Vodafone, a prestigious mobile communications company with a reputation for top quality and a global presence,” MediaTek chief financial officer Yu Mingto (喻銘鐸) said in a joint statement released on Thursday.

“With both companies’ vision of providing the best product performance to their customers with competitive pricing, we see boundless potential in this strategic cooperation,” Yu said.

In the statement, Vodafone said it selected MediaTek chipsets for two of its new wireless devices.

One of them, code-named Vofafone 541, an entry-level handset equipped with a touch screen, is expected to be available in the European market, part of Vodafone’s efforts to stimulate Christmas mobile phone sales, MediaTek said.

At the end of June, Vodafone had approximately 315 million subscribers.

Last month, MediaTek said it reached a consensus with China Mobile Ltd (中國移動), the world’s biggest mobile operator by subscribers, to develop China’s 3G, or time-division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) technology and 4G technologies.

MediaTek has told investors that third-quarter revenues may expand between 15 percent and 20 percent from NT$28.15 billion in the second quarter, because of new orders and rising demand from Chinese customers ahead of China’s buying season beginning next month.
　
　
By Lisa Wang, STAFF REPORTER / Taipei Times

雖然在山寨市場已經「獨霸天下」，不過聯發科董事長蔡明介的心中還是以「打進一線手機大廠供應鏈」為最高指導原則，目前看來聯發科距離這個目標已經越來越近。

因為就在聯發科手機平台相繼獲得韓國樂金（LG）以及日本的夏普採用後，現在在手機界以「難搞定」聞名的 Vodafone 也正式宣佈將採用聯發科的晶片，顯然聯發科進入一線手機大廠供應鏈，已經是「指日可待」。

與 Vodafone 合作過的業者都知道，Vodafone 是相當挑剔的電信業者，因此能通過 Vodafone 的重重認證，背後代表兩個意義，首先就是產品上，代表聯發科的產品「雖然價格山寨、品質卻是國際級」，不管在品質、規格以及穩定度上，聯發科手機晶片都已經達到國際級的水準。

而聯發科打入 Vodafone 供應鏈，也是代表其開始由「山寨天王」轉型為「主流手機晶片廠」大戲已經開始上演，未來聯發科將不再是山寨霸主，而是全球一線手機晶片大廠。

業者表示，聯發科現在一年接近 3.5 億套的手機晶片出貨量已經很難讓國際手機大廠忽視，加上現在在 2.5G 幾乎也沒有其他晶片廠可供選擇，現在聯發科晶片取得 Vodafone 的入門票，就猶如通過國際級品質認證一般，將更有利於爭取到諾基亞、三星等等一線大廠的訂單。

另外，過去採用聯發科晶片的手機，銷售到新興市場大多都是透過「非主流」、「非正常管道」的方式在銷售，所以又稱為「山寨機」「黑手機」，現在聯發科取得與 Vodafone 的策略合作關係後，以 Vodafone 在全球的佈局來看，聯發科將正式打入電信業者正統的「手機銷售補貼供應體系當中」，同時透過 Vodafone 將產品銷售到全世界。
　
　
工商時報　張瀞文

歐洲第一大電信服務業者 Vodafone 昨（3）日宣佈，與國內 IC 設計龍頭聯發科（2454）建立策略合作夥伴關係，其歐洲最新上市的兩款新機，將採用聯發科的手機晶片解決方案。由於 Vodafone 為全球第三大電信業者，共有 3.15 億用戶，聯發科打入 Vodafone 陣營，將快速成為該公司第一大手機晶片供應商。

本次，聯發科與 Vodafone 攜手讓「山寨變白牌」，其新款 Vodafone 541 將會是 Vodafone 在歐洲上市、首款具備觸控螢幕的入門機款，另一款則為傳統 2.5G 版手機，以低價多樣性取勝。由於利多加持，港商里昂證券昨天指出，聯發科的成長題材將更勝以往，以股東權益報酬率（ROE）超過 40%、2010 年本益比上看 11.4 倍，且現金收益率 5.9% 來看，本益比可望向過去 3 年平均本益比靠攏，因此將目標價進一步推升至 590 元。

繼樂金（LG）與夏普（Sharp）等品牌大廠相繼採用聯發科手機平台後，歐洲第一大電信服務業者 Vodafone 在新機發表會上宣佈，今年第四季主打耶誕旺季的八款自有品牌新機當中，有兩款將採用聯發科手機解決方案。

業者表示，Vodafone 自有品牌手機晶片以往多由英飛凌提供，而為其代工的大陸的中興及華為為生產的白牌手機，則間接採用聯發科晶片，這一次 Vodafone 透過官網正式對外宣佈自有品牌採用聯發科晶片倒是頭一遭，也代表雙方未來合作關係將更為深厚。

Vodafone Extends Popular Own Branded Device Range With Eight New Devices In Time For Christmas

03 September 2009

Vodafone today announces eight new additions to its own branded consumer devices, building on the success of over 20 million handsets shipped so far under the Vodafone brand.

Patrick Chomet, Group Director of Terminals for Vodafone said: “I am delighted to be adding further diversity to the Vodafone own branded device range. From fashion-influenced mobiles to business tools, these new handsets will give our customers stylish, contemporary and great value choices.This new range of mobile phones will offer features such as a touchscreen experience and services like the mobile internet to a broad base of both European pre-pay customers and customers in emerging markets, many of whom will be using them for the first time.”

As part of Vodafone’s strategy to constantly improve the cost and efficiency of its own branded handsets, Vodafone has selected MediaTek chipsets for two of the new devices. The strategic partnership with MediaTek provides Vodafone with the opportunity to offer the Vodafone 340 camera phone at a very affordable price as well as its first entry level, low cost touchscreen device for prepaid customers – the Vodafone 541 – all without compromising our rigid quality standards.

摩根大通證券科技產業分析師郭彥麟表示，Vodafone 的作法等於將與聯發科的關係「化暗為明」，雖然市場大多已知道雙方的關係，但是顯示聯發科手機晶片的備受肯定，全球電信業者自有品牌手機市場規模已經由 2005 年的 1,800 萬支大幅成長至今（2009）年的預估 1.1 億支，顯示這塊市場夠大，聯發科未來成長潛能相當看好。

聯發科副總喻銘鐸表示，聯發科的手機解決方案已在全球超過 50 個國家與 150 個運營商完成完整路測（Field Trial），基於對效能與成本控制的嚴格要求，聯發科與 Vodafone 的合作不論是質與量都具備極大潛能。
　
　
工商時報　張瀞文、張志榮／台北報導

聯發科昨（3）日宣布獲得歐洲最大電信業者伏得風（Vodafone）採用數款入門、多媒體手機晶片，伏得風將藉聯發科晶片實力刺激歐洲耶誕節手機買氣，也可順勢提升聯發科第四季業績。

聯發科 2006 年中就透過手機代工廠拿下伏得風手機訂單，但基於客戶機密，聯發科向來低調，經過三年，伏得風昨天卻主動與聯發科一起宣布近期合作的產品，聯發科並成為伏得風的策略夥伴，將有助聯發科提升在中國、新興國家以外的市場占有率，對爭取一線客戶有幫助。

聯發科昨（3）日大漲 13 元，收 517 元。聯發科也與印度、墨西哥等當地大型電信運營商合作，近期更與全球最大電信業者中國移動，就大陸 3G、4G 成為策略合作夥伴。
　
　
經濟日報　陳碧珠、陳雅蘭／台北報導