Emphasizing on environment, health, simplicity and leisure, the trend of LOHAS has not only become the bench mark of modern life, but it also prompted a wave of irresistible trend in technology industry. Based on two analysis indexes – ‘Market Scale’ and ‘Development Potential’ – Topology Research Institute has released its latest report on the ‘Forecast for Electronics Industry in the Latter Half of 2007’. The report indicated that ‘Electric Bike’ (E-Bike) and LED industries shall have the most potential in the second half of the year. With an incredible growth rate of 50% and higher, the Portable Navigation Devices (PND), games console and WiFi also were predicted to squeeze in to become the top five of having the most development potential. Whereas under the influence of a comprehensive mobile network environment, the production volume of the notebook computers is confident to stay in the pole position in the electronics industry of the second half of the year. Meanwhile the report also mentioned the innovative concept of ‘EZ TECH’, predicting that those potential laden industry which are easily operable for the consumers, able to instantly satisfy the demands, as well as having covered the concept of energy conservation, shall become the new force in prompting a continuous growth in IT industry.

The Market Scale & Potential of Taiwanese IT Industry in the Second Half of 2007

Source: Topology Research Institute, 2007/06

Technology Shall Never go Cold again with ‘EZ TECH’ Topology Research Institute presented IT industry’s brand new LOHAS concept – ‘EZ TECH’ – in its report on the ‘Forecast for Electronics Industry in the Latter Half of 2007’ for the first time. The core spirits are ‘simplicity’ and ‘relaxed’. In Topology Research Institute’s analysis into industries and related products that are listed in top five of the market scale and potential, it has discovered that the concept of EZ TECH is in fact everywhere. Therefore the IT industry can easily win the heart and soul of the consumers if they can simplify people’s way of life via the characteristics of ‘simple design’, ‘ease of operation’ and ‘easy to carry’. Another core for the ‘EZ TECH’ is ‘relax’. For example, the reason why notebook computers are able to continue to grow is because its marketing focus has shifted from the need of the serious business traveller to ‘slime and light weight’, ‘convenient’, ‘portable’ and other demanded by an average consumer. Besides from the ease of use, the lowering of the cost have also allowed consumer ownership, the widespread availability of wireless broadband has allowed easy access to the internet, and tougher environmental regulations that reduce the burden on the environment, they all originate from the concept of ‘EZ TECH’.

Popularize the Concept of EZ TECH brings about Business Opportunities

Envision the second half of 2007, as predicted by the Topology Research Institute, that the general scene of the IT industry in Taiwan is expected to grow steadily under the lead of the EZ TECH concept. Of which with the help of the new platform, gross profit margin of the notebook computers businesses is able to steady and rise. Rapid growth of the personalized ‘Internet-enabled’ mobile products and high speed internet, adding to the widespread application of communication chip in the high-end cell phone also prompting and increasing shipment of the network communication businesses. The topics of energy conservation can further enable the revenue of the E-Bike and LED industries to create another new height. On the aspect of LCD production, a long term shipment profits can be expected in relevant manufacturers following the peak season in the second half of the year. In addition, global market share of consumer electronics such as the games console, LCD TV, DSC, and Portable Navigation Devices (PND) shall continue to look positive.

In the semiconductors aspect, since there was an imbalance in the supply and demand of the memory devices in the first half of the year, and adding to the lack of evidence in the hardware change that was expected to be triggered by the Windows Vista, all those factors has caused the price of the microprocessors and memory devices to continue to fall. The production value of the semiconductor for the whole of 2007 is estimated by the Topology Research Institute to lower from the original 275.1 billion US dollars to the 254.8 billion US dollars, whereas the annual growth rate reduces from 9% to 2.87%

Prospect Growth Triggered by the Relevant Industries of the Taiwan EZ TECH in the Second Half of 2007

Source: Topology Research Institute, 2007/06

Double Arrow Heads of the EZ TECH Notebook Computers & E-Bike Take the Lead Topology Research Institute predicts that the production volume of the notebook computers shall remain on the pole position among the electronics industry in the second half of 2007. Whereas the ‘Personal Mobile Internet’ – which consists the characters of Mobility, Comprehensive Internet Functions and is Always Connected – shall become a killer application in the area of notebook computers. The content service provided by the Web 2.0 also grasped the need of the average consumer market, such as entertainment, and Location Base Service (LBS). Operating aspect is also another main driving factor in the development of notebook computers, namely the reduction of start up time for machine and software, prolong the battery life, provision of an user friendly interface, convenient platform and an affordable price.

Furthermore, the motivation for rapid growth for E-Bike – which is known as the ‘Pioneer of the Green Traffic Era’ – originated from a rise in environmental awareness and the pressure from the increase in energy cost, as well as including the global trend of out migration from the country to the city. Statistics from the United Nations (UN) pointed out that 48.3% of the world’s population (approximately 3 billion) in 2003 lived in the city. The country side population still continues to flock into the city in emerging countries such as Mexico, Brazil, India, Argentina, China and Indonesia. This has already exceeded the capacity of the public transport system, adding to a continuing radiating area of the super city zone, thus finding an easily available, leisurely and environmental energy conserving transportation has become an urgent requirement. E-Bike therefore stands out because of this, with a prospect of becoming the first choice of personal transportation for the citizen of the urban areas in newly emerging countries. No limit can be placed on the development of the industry!