MediaTek secures Garmin GPS chip orders
MediaTek Inc., currently Taiwan’s No.1 fabless house by revenue, said it has recently secured orders from Garmin Ltd., the world’s No.1 supplier of global positioning system (GPS) devices, for its chips, likely dethroning SiRF as No.1 GPS chip supplier.
Industry executives pointed out that MediaTek’s highly integrated GPS solution, codenamed MT3329, is much more competitive than SiRF’s solutions. MT3329 will go into Garmin GPS MAP 60 devices.
For a long time, Garmin has mostly depended on SiRF for the chips for its personal navigation devices (PNDs). However, Garmin has begun trying the chips from other suppliers at a time when prices of GPS chips have slumped steeply and SiRF has been acquired by Bluetooth-solution provider CSR. MediaTek was recently chosen to supply Garmin the chips.
Industry watchers estimate MediaTek to unseat SiRF as the world’s No.1 GPS-chip supplier after obtaining Garmin’s orders.
Market research organization ABI Research forecasts 39 million PNDs to be shipped worldwide this year, staying on par with last year’s level. Although GPS-enabled mobile phones have eroded PDN’s market share thanks to declining costs, ABI believes PND suppliers will regain momentum in export growth next year.
Currently, Garmin, TomTom and Mio are the top three brands in the world PND market.
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