As netbook sales continue to pick up in a struggling world economy, Intel, which makes the processors found in many of those netbooks, is mulling over how best to profit from that market.

Intel is now preparing for the mass production of Google Android-based netbooks, a reliable source tells us, though for now we have few other details.

Such an effort could yield Android netbooks as early as this year, but 2010 remains a more likely scenario. (continuare…)

ABI research released the results of a survey today called “U.S. Consumer Interest in Netbooks,” which found that of more than 1000 netbook users, only 11% used theirs as their primary household computer.

Sales of netbooks in 2008 were in excess of 11 million, and analysts began to track the effect it was having on notebook and desktop sales. In November, marketing executives from Acer and Asus estimated between 8-20% of netbook buyers were lost notebook sales.

ABI’s Philip Solis says, “While their low price does cause some consumers to view netbooks as a replacement for a laptop given the current economic conditions, the majority view a netbook as being a secondary device.” An overwhelming 79% of those surveyed relegated netbooks to the backup tier.

Earlier this month, Microsoft trumpeted a series of sales numbers for the Xbox 360, including that in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Xbox had extended its lead over the PS3 by more than 1 million units. Not so, says Sony.

In a wide-ranging interview with EuroGamer, David Reeves, who heads up Sony’s operations in Europe, says Sony’s numbers show that the two consoles are “absolutely neck-and-neck” in the region.

“What happened was, we overtook them, and they dropped the price,” he says. “It’s almost as if we’ve gone ten rounds as Mohammed Ali and we’re still standing, because we didn’t drop the price. We held firm.”

“Now, going into the remaining rounds and the next seven years, we are going to be very strong. The last few weeks have shown we are clearly number two in the market. I’m as confident as I was before.”

Reeves’ statement is noteworthy because Europe has traditionally been strong ground for the PS3 (Thus, the significance of Microsoft’s claimed lead).

At another point in the interview, Reeves says the PlayStation 3 is likely to remain the most expensive video game console on the market. He says that before Sony will cut the PS3′s price, the company will have to cut down on the cost of making the video game consoles.

“I’m not saying we don’t need to do it – we are expensive,” he says.

That statement also stands out, considering that Sony has said that while the sticker price on the PS3 might be more than the Xbox, its console presents a much better value.

The total server shipments to the Taiwan market in the third quarter of 2008 reached 19,208 units, drops of 10.7% on quarter and 8.7% on year, while total revenues reached US$70.8 million, a drop of 31.5% compared to the same period a year earlier, according to IDC.

For the x86-based server segment, shipments in Taiwan reached 18,589 units in the third quarter of 2008, drops of 10% on quarter and 8% on year. The top-five vendors were Hewlett-Packard (HP), IBM, Dell, Asustek Computer and Acer with a combined market share of 88.5%, a drop from the 90.3% of the previous quarter.

Benefiting from growth in its 2-way server line, HP became the largest vendor in Taiwan in the third quarter of 2008.

Although overall x86-based server shipments dropped in the third quarter, x86-based blade servers saw a growth of 51% on quarter.

For the non-x86-based server segment, shipments in Taiwan reached 619 units in the third quarter, drops of 27% on quarter and 17% on year.

The top-three non-x86 server vendors in Taiwan were Sun Microsystems, IBM and HP with a combined market share of 92.2% in the third quarter, IDC said.

The use of the Qualcomm MSM7600 baseband processor represents the first time iSuppli’s Teardown Analysis Service has detected a part from this manufacturer in a RIM product. Previous teardowns noted that RIM employed Marvell chips for this function. For example, the Bold used Marvell Technology Group’s PXA9xx Integrated Baseband processor. The Qualcomm part not only provides support for the EVDO air standard, making it a more of a worldwide phone, but it also eliminates the need for multiple basebands and radio frequency chains, saving some cost.

At an estimated price of US$34.82, the MSM7600 accounts for 17.2% of the Storm’s total component cost. Qualcomm also provided two RF transceivers and a power management IC for the Storm, giving the company a 21.1% share of the total component costs for the product. (continuare…)

The BlackBerry Storm 9530 from Research in Motion (RIM) carries a combined materials and manufacturing cost of US$202.89, according to a teardown conducted by iSuppli. This cost includes all parts and manufacturing costs for the Storm but excludes other expenses, including Intellectual Property (IP), royalties and licensing fees, software, shipping, logistics marketing and other channel costs.

In the US, Verizon is selling the Storm for US$249.99 with a US$50 rebate, bringing the balance to US$199.99 – the same selling price point as iPhone. However, carriers like Verizon and AT&T sell their mobile phones at subsidized pricing, so the actual price and materials/manufacturing margin for the product is difficult to determine.

Storm vs. iPhone

The Storm matches up with the iPhone 3G very well in terms of attributes and functionality. Both phones combine wireless voice communications with a range of other convergence features, including Internet access, email, built-in GPS, messaging and an integrated camera. (continuare…)