The international patent war over compound semiconductors, specifically Gallium Nitride (GaN), continues to intensify. In July, Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) from the US won a ruling from the US International Trade Commission (ITC) that found China's GaN leader Innoscience guilty of infringing one of its patents, making it difficult for the latter to enter the US market
Samsung Electronics is reportedly increasing the likelihood of launching the budget-friendly flagship Galaxy S24 FE in the second half of 2024, aiming to hit the market ahead of Apple's iPhone SE 4, which is expected to be launched in early 2025. The Galaxy S24 FE is anticipated to feature Samsung's in-house AP and be released in October 2024
Reports from the Chinese semiconductor industry suggest that Huawei's Ascend 910C chip may face significant delays due to low production yields, which could severely impact scheduling and planning at wafer fabrication plants
Uber Technologies Inc.-backed Lime is entering Japan's growing e-scooter ride market in a foray that pits the San Francisco-based startup against homegrown Luup KK
Apple's competitive yet cooperative relationship with WeChat, the leading social media platform in China, is being closely observed as Apple, known for being quite assertive, figures out how to navigate its stance on WeChat. In particular, WeChat's Mini-Programs (or mini-apps) are at the center of the negotiations
Backed by strong support from the Chinese government and the inconsistent actions of the US, Chinese semiconductor equipment manufacturer Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment (AMEC) has seized the opportunity to take a bold step, directly suing the US Department of Defense (DoD) for its inclusion in a blacklist
Huawei's upcoming Mate 70 series flagship smartphone, which was previously rumored to be released in September, could be delayed until November or later. This potential delay could affect the company's performance in the Chinese smartphone market
Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida is stepping down before the end of September 2024. Many policies from his administration require large budgets, including providing subsidies for the semiconductor industry and the GX policy. There are still questions regarding how these policies would proceed after his leave
With Intel and Wolfspeed delaying the development of facilities in Germany, TSMC will break ground on a new plant in Dresden on August 20, which is critical for Germany, according to industry sources
In recent years, business for joint venture automakers in the Chinese market is no longer smooth sailing, facing increasing challenges. As a result, many have adjusted their local operations
Huawei's new AI chip, the Ascend 910C, is reportedly set for release with performance comparable to the NVIDIA H100 GPU. While the older Ascend 910B did not pose a significant threat to Nvidia due to limited upgrades and supply capacity, industry observers believe that if the 910C can be successfully mass-produced, it could significantly impact Nvidia's performance in the Chinese market
China's Ministry of Commerce announced that it will expand its export controls to include antimony, a rare metal crucial for semiconductor materials. Beginning September 15, Chinese exporters will need government approval to ship antimony-related products abroad
Japan-based semiconductor equipment supplier Disco plans to establish its presence in India, as India plans to build a chipmaking ecosystem amid the global diversification in semiconductors
