The byte gets bigger

The global fascination with (and demand for) iPhones and iPads has touched the semiconductor industry. Last year, Apple became the largest consumer of semiconductor components such as chips. According to IT research and advisory firm Gartner, Apple spent $17.26 billion (Rs 86,438 crore) in 2011— almost 35% more than in 2010 —to buy components. That’s 5.7% of the $302.1 billion semiconductor market. “The swelling shares of smartphone companies such as Apple, Samsung, and HTC, increased semiconductor demand. Tablets were also a growth driver for the market throughout 2011,” says Masatsune Yamaji, principal research analyst, Gartner.