Semiconductor development platform market to grow

In spite of current economic conditions, the market for semiconductor development platforms is forecast to continue positive growth according to Cahners In-Stat/MDR, the high-tech market research firm.

Dominated by the board-based approach, the development platforms market will experience a compound annual growth rate of 95% from 2000 through 2005 as the development of next-generation system technology continues.

"As the market moves forward, development platform approaches have got a lot more expensive and complex, as well as becoming more application specific," says Jerry Worchel, a senior analyst with In-Stat/MDR.

"While there will always be some companies addressing the broader market requirements, most will specialise in the wired and wireless communications infrastructure, where performance demands are continuously being pushed to the limit."

In-Stat/MDR has also found that: worldwide shipments of development platforms are forecast to increase from just under $14 million last year to $380 million by 2005, and that the board-based approach will dominate market revenues throughout the forecast period, but its market share will continually decline, to 76% by 2005.

The majority of consumption for these products, be they board or silicon-based, will be in the infrastructure of communications, where consumption market share will average nearly 66%, throughout the forecast period.