Abstract
The Analog Market is split into two segments: Application Specific and General Purpose. General Purpose Analog includes both Standard Performance Analog and High Performance products such as digital power and high speed converters, and consists of any form of Analog IC that is not designed for a specific application category. Amplifiers are a critical piece of the general purpose analog market, as they perform critical signal handling duties in numerous high volume product markets.
The general analog IC market in 2011 witnessed many the same ups and downs that the general semiconductor industry saw during the year. However, demand for analog chips particularly within consumer electronics and communications equipment,has remained buoyant over the past year. This was generally thanks to the rise of smartphones, as well as consistent sales growth in analog radio-frequency (RF) and power management chips used for GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth segments.
Databeans projects that total general purpose analog revenue will slightly decline in 2012 from 2011 to just over $17 billion. However, over the next five years, sales will increase steadily at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10 percent. Analog power ICs will remain the largest individual product category with $9.3 billion or 54 percent of the 2012 global market.
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