Raising DSP forecast from 25% to 30%

AUGUST 2--Semiconductor shipments for the first half of 2004, reported by Forward Concepts Electronics Market Research (Tempe, AZ; www.forwardconcepts.com), indicate that first-quarter DSP shipments were lackluster, down 4% from the previous quarter. However, Q2 shipments were up a significant 15% over Q1 to the $2 billion level. This compares with a 9.5% quarterly increase for overall ICs.

Japan's market share (in consumption) jumped by 36.6% in the second quarter, indicating a big uptake in 3G deployment there. Short-range wireless growth in Q2 was up an eye-catching 95%. Details of all of these can be found on the company's Web site.