Lite-On IT has reportedly obtained OEM orders for half-height (H/H) DVD burners from NEC through its strategic-alliance partner Sony, according to industry sources. If true, Lite-On IT stands a good chance of replacing Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS) to become the largest global maker of H/H DVD burners next year. Lite-On IT, however, declined to comment on the report.
The sources pointed out that shipments for the OEM order are to begin in April 2006. Viewing that OEM prices for H/H 16x DVD burners have dropped to as low as US$35-40, NEC is under increasing pressure from competition and must turn to OEM production sooner or later, the sources indicated.
Taiwan Securities Investment Advisory, quoting a forecast by Japan-based Techno Systems Research (TSR), indicated that HLDS will ship 19.72 million H/H DVD burners this year, followed by NEC with 10.87 million, and Lite-On IT with 10.45 million units. If NEC releases all of its OEM orders to Lite-On IT, the latter would have a larger shipment volume than HLDS.
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Source:
DigiTimes
Nov 25, 2005, 11:15 PM
