Flash memory worth $15.9 billion by 2008 
With phones dominating the scene
By INQUIRER staff: Dienstag 14 September 2004, 11:19
FUTURE HORIZONS said that flash memory cards for digital electronics products was worth $4.1 billion in last year but will rise with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41% to be worth $15.9 billion by 2008.
The semiconductor analyst firm said that while sales of digital cameras are boosting the demand, representing 47 million units (44.3% or 47 million units) of the market last year, mobile phones will take over that mantle by 2005, By 2008, this sector will account for 68.7% of the market, representing an estimated 89 million units.
Malcolm Penn, CEO of Future Horizons, said: "Mobile phones are the real upcoming catalyst for the flash memory card market. Over the next three years... the average mobile phone will have a removable card with over 1GB of flash".
And what of the shape and sizes of flash cards? The analysts reckon that by 2008 miniSD will represent 35.5% of the market, reduced size multimedia 19%, and Sony's memory stick format 24%.
Smart Media and Compact Flash formats are on their way out, reckons Penn. µ
L'INQ