Cell phones and portable consumer electronics are driving Standard Linear revenue, even as possible over-capacity nears as a potential threat to the market.

While it is true that the semiconductor industry is driven by a variety of end-products, including computers, consumer electronics, automotive electronics, and medical applications, for examples, and that there is no one dominating area of demand, the major drivers at the present time are clearly cell phones and other portable consumer electronics.

Expect 2006 overall to be a huge growth year for standard linear products. Databeans forecasts that the market will be up 26 percent, to reach almost $15 billion for the year. So far, Databeans estimates revenue of $6.7 billion for the first half of 2006. The hottest Standard Linear categories for the year are analog power and data converters.

This study provides readers with quarterly forecasts and first half 2006 market share for the standard linear market, which includes amplifiers, comparators, interface, data converters, and power.

Other significant findings available in this report include:

• Texas Instruments continues to increase share in the standard linear market, outperforming the industry in the first half of 2006
• Average selling prices to remain stable through the rest of 2006
• Data Converters and Power ICs remain the strongest revenue contributors, both estimated to be growing at 14 percent each year on average.