Record year for consumer MEMS market?

The analyst cites robust exposure in smartphone and tablet applications as the main drivers to this year's growth, with the MEMS content in the devices continuing to increase. According to IHS, the five year revenue prospects starting from 2010 call for solid growth by a factor of nearly three to $4.54billion in 2015 – equivalent to a compound annual growth rate of 22.5%. Jérémie Bouchaud, analyst at IHS, believes revenue for 3-axis gyroscopes, standard MEMS devices used in conjunction with accelerometers, will be this year's 'blockbuster'. "Revenue in 2011 for 3-axis gyroscopes will soar to $420million, up from $127m last year," he said. "The 3-axis gyroscope can be found in smartphones such as the iPhone 4 from Apple and the Galaxy SII from Samsung Electronics; in virtually all tablet devices, including the Apple iPad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab; as well as in gaming devices like the PlayStation Move motion controller from Sony." Overall, Bouchard says that gyroscopes will generate the second strongest revenue among consumer and mobile MEMS in 2010; second only to accelerometers, the device that allows smartphones to rotate from a portrait to landscape orientation and vice versa. "Not surprisingly, mobile handsets will be the largest application this year," he continued. "MEMS revenue for handsets will reach $1.21bn, approximately 50% of the total consumer and mobile MEMS space. In second place will be gaming with $221.49m in revenue, followed by media tablets with $158.64m. MEMS revenue from tablets, in particular, will show the fastest growth, up an astounding 331% from $36.83m in 2010, and is set to overtake gaming next year to clinch second place."