According to a report titled ‘Silicon Microphones and Speakers: Technology, Market Analysis, and End-Applications’, silicon MEMS microphone shipments increased to 85% in 2011.
The Information Network, a market research company based in New Tripoli, Pennsylvania is the publisher of the report. The company’s President, Dr. Robert Castellano informed that the increase in the utilization of MEMS microphones in tablets and smartphones was the major driving factor. In 2011, 72 million units of tablets were shipped, while nearly 500 million smartphones were shipped, marking an increase of 61%.
The number of MEMS microphone units shipped in 2011 was 1.3 million when compared to 700,000 units in 2010. The increase in shipments was combined with a rise in the count of microphones per smartphone. For instance, Apple has added two MEMS microphones to its iPhone 4 and 4S versions. The volume user in the fiscal year 2011 was Apple, which purchased 350,000 units. Samsung, which purchased 250,000 units, held the second place.
Knowles, which supplies MEMS microphone to Apple and Samsung, retained its dominance in the market and was well ahead of second-place Infineon whose market share was 17%. Analog Devices was in the third place, thanks to the supply of MEMS microphones to Apple in the fiscal year 2011.
Dr. Castellano commented that MEMS Speakers is an even larger market. Although no feasible commercial successes are available so far, viable technology is the near future thanks to the ongoing extensive research. Features compared to current dynamic offerings, size versus output and challenges of physics are the major fundamental issues. All these issues have to be addressed to provide better value than current technology to the market or customers.
Source: http://www.theinformationnet.com/