Driven by the success of Apple’s iPhone and its competitors, the fast-growing market for MEMS accelerometers is preventing the MEMS industry from falling into the doldrums experienced by the rest of the electronics market, according to research firm iSuppli Corp. This trend is also significantly boosting the market for all types of MEMS for mobile handsets. The company predicts that global revenue for all types of MEMS for mobile handsets and smart phones will increase to $1.3 billion by the end of 2012, rising at a CAGR of 34.4% from 296.8 million in 2007.

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In fact, the gains in sales of mobile-handset accelerometers, which are used to detect motion in smart phones, are offsetting declines seen in other areas, including RPTVs. The decline in RPTV shipments already has impacted the MEMS market, and sales are not expected to recover until 2010.

Video game console controllers represent another bright spot for MEMS gyroscopes and accelerometers, with their revenue growing at a CAGR of 11% to reach $240 million in 2012, up from 28 million in 2006. PCs also will be a hotbed for MEMS demand in the coming years, according to iSuppli. In terms of volume, the largest product sectors for all types of MEMS are accelerometers and microphones, followed by FBAR filters.

The information is contained in iSuppli’s upcoming report, “Consumer Electronics and Mobile MEMS Market Tracker, Q4 2008,” which will be available this month.

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