Will today’s electronics components be available to support hardware through the entire life cycle? As time progresses, the cost of current components will increase as redesign costs decrease. Things become dicey when components in the decline phase support hardware in the maturity phase – where obsolescence directly impacts hardware sales.

Learn more about defense electronics supply chains and working with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Vigilance in monitoring component manufacturers is key. Counterfeit parts likelihood increases during transition to lead free. Effort becomes more critical when considering use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. Telecommunications, medical electronics manufacturers face similar electronics assembly challenges.

Turns out we could be in for a long shortage in the semiconductor sector. Some analysts and investment bankers say one thing, semiconductor manufacturers and other analysts say another thing. Who's right? And, what's China got to do with this?

Overall mix creates true differentiation in marketplace. Channel check of 100 stores reveals iPhone 4 demand outstripping supply across several regions. Apps growing 10% to 20% monthly with majority of downloads costing $9.99. Most widely deployed smartphone OS is Symbian followed by Blackberry OS then iPhone OS. EMS provider Pegatron to develop CDMA version.

Nokia outsourced less than 5% of smartphone volume beginning 2010. Finding balance between leveraging internal strengths and faster execution. Competition from Apple, HTC, RIM driving margins downward. Nokia’s size obscures the fact their competition has been growing in recent years. Nokia attempting to make a hard change in course using Yahoo as one of its rudders.

Low risk for Hewlett Packard with huge payoff potential. Acquisition catapults HP into Mobile devices. Microsoft and Google relations could sour. EMS currently serving HP include Flextronics, Jabil Circuit, Sanmina-SCI, Hon Hai... 

This is not just another review of how the iPad bridges the world of smartphones, netbooks and notebooks. Read this cost analysis of 3G enabled netbooks vs. the 3G iPad. How will Dell, HP, Acer respond? Some say the iPad is a game changer with a whole new category of OS and will no doubt cause the definition of PC to be revised. iPad could change everything. How will it change you?

The tablet / eReader market could converge into a single device that incorporates full color video, eBooks, magazines, gaming, web-browsing and iTunes-like functionality with ...

Aggressive pricing helps Asian PC makers as OEM captures first time No. 2 position. Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba contribute to 79.9 million PC units shipped third quarter. Flextronics, Hon Hai take top market positions in EMS computing sector.

US college students to spend all-time high in 2009. Computer and consumer electronics account for majority EMS and ODM revenues. Companies with large EMS consumer electronics market shares include Hon Hai, Flextronics, Foxconn, High Tech Computer …