Research and Markets: Networking Switches & Hubs - Identify the Manufacturers That Supply the World's Leading Brands, Including D-Link, Linksys, Motorola, Netgear, Siemens, Telefonica and Yahoo!BB

Business Wire, June 6, 2006

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c38012) has announced the addition of China Sourcing Report: Networking Switches & Hubs to their offering.

Makers of networking switches & hubs in Greater China are poised to ramp up production in 2006 to boost their 11% share of the booming worldwide networking market.

--What sourcing opportunities are available for you now?

--Where can you find the products that best fit your price entry-point?

--Which suppliers are right for your needs?

This 96-page report answers those questions. It provides you with all the information to source more efficiently and profitable, using extensive company profiles to pre-qualify suppliers.

It also contains invaluable product comparison information, price guides, manufacturing trends and comprehensive industry overview.

What you will get:

--In-depth profiles of 19 leading networking equipment manufacturers outlining their manufacturing capabilities, QC processes, product certifications and more. Based on personal factory visits and interviews with senior managers, this information is available nowhere else

--Short profiles of 7 additional suppliers highlighting key statistics including production capacity, product lines, export markets and R&D focus

--A detailed product gallery showcasing 88 top selling export models, with top-line specifications and key features

--The results of Global Sources' latest supplier survey, forecasting price, product, production and R&D trends for the next 12 months

--This report covers: networking switches, hubs, routers and gateways

How you will benefit:

--Understand the steps suppliers are taking to develop homegrown core technologies and the impact on your orders' FOB price

--Identify the manufacturers that supply the world's leading brands, including D-Link, Linksys, Motorola, Netgear, Siemens, Telefonica and Yahoo!BB

--Get a first-hand look at the products and advanced functions being rolled out in the next 12 months

--Benefit from quick-to-use summary listings of all featured suppliers with easy-to-compare statistics, as well as verified contact details

Contents are as follows:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

SUPPLIER AT A GLANCE

SUPPLIER PROFILES

SUPPLIER TABLES

PRODUCT GALLERY

SUPPLIER CONTACT DETAILS

Manufacturers of networking switches and hubs across mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, collectively referred to as Greater China, are expanding their output and exports in 2006 to boost their 11 percent share of the thriving worldwide networking market garnered in 2005. The reason for the surging optimism is the success of mainland China's Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd in the worldwide market. Huawei ranked as the world's second largest player in the secure router market in 2005, closely trailing Cisco and surpassing Nortel.

Many mainland China manufacturers are shifting from a domestic market-centric business model toward a more export-driven approach and more Taiwan makers are promoting their in-house labels while improving their OEM and ODM services.

To understand the dynamics of the networking switches and hubs industry, Global Sources carried out on-site interviews and factory tours of 19 manufacturers and phone surveys of seven others. The 26 manufacturers, including 13 based in mainland China, two in Hong Kong, and 11 in Taiwan, were selected based on their relative position in the supply markets. Many of them are first- and second-tier manufacturers. Several are small players keen on expanding their overseas markets, while others were previously emphasizing OEM and ODM, but are now promoting their own brands.

--Backbone and core networking switches and routers dominate production in Greater China. These are followed by products for SOHO and SME applications.

--Production of hubs continues to decline, as makers switch to more intelligent products. Supply of gateways, routers and multifunction or integrated products is rising.

--Taiwan has more than 100 makers of networking switches and hubs; mainland China, about 35 makers.

--The Pearl River Delta is the manufacturing base for networking switches and hubs in mainland China. Other key sourcing centers are Beijing, Shanghai, Hubei, Sichuan and Fujian.

A perspective of worldwide market and the supply market situation in Greater China is presented in the Industry Background section.

The production capacities and plans of manufacturers are discussed in the Manufacturing Capability section. Key production processes, specifying those that are done in-house and those subcontracted, that buyers may use to differentiate manufacturers, are also covered.

Among the manufacturing concerns and issues faced by manufacturers, and the solutions they are applying include:

--To stave off heavy reliance on chipsets from major foreign suppliers that limits R&D capabilities, large companies are starting to develop homegrown core technologies.

--Fearing components supply shortage resulting from rising demand, more manufacturers are providing chipset demand forecasts and looking for alternative suppliers.