The exponential growth of LCD display driver IC segment due to growing popularity of LCD displays is creating an upbeat mood among market participants.
"LCD display's decreasing prices, which are driving demand, are simultaneously triggering growth of LCD display driver IC markets," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Nagarajan Sampathkumar. "This growth stems from increasing adoption of thin film transistor (TFT) LCD monitors in various applications."
LCD display driver ICs are also attracting considerable revenues from high-growth segments such as personal digital assistants and large-screen home TVs. Better color resolutions and picture quality offered by LCD technology is strengthening this momentum.
Meanwhile, the growth impetus from rising sales of mobile phones, digital cameras, and portable MP3 players is translating into increasing returns for LED display driver ICs. In addition, the power-saving solution of this technology is triggering new opportunities in automobile applications such as the global positioning system (GPS).
The recent introduction of OLED display driver IC has further enhanced revenue prospects for market participants globally. OLED attracts end users due to its improved brightness, contrast, and greater clarity when compared to LCD and cathode ray tube (CRT) technologies. However, its high cost of production and low output could dampen market enthusiasm, and thereby restrain the sale of OLED driver ICs.
"To optimize returns in OLED display driver IC segment, manufacturers of OLED displays need to invent cost-effective manufacturing processes, observes Sampathkumar. "They also need to enhance OLED display's life cycle, efficiency, and color range compared to conventional technologies."
In this technology-driven market, focusing on innovations that offer improved capabilities is vital to sustain market growth. However, established manufacturers in the Asia Pacific are likely to leverage tactical pricing to gain an edge in the market.
