News and Research on Actions Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (ACTS)
Business Description
Actions Semiconductor Co., Ltd., a fabless semiconductor company, engages in the design, development and marketing of integrated platform solutions.
The company offers System-on-a-chip (SoC) products and total solutions for the development and manufacture of personal media players and the provision of testing solutions. The group’s solutions enable its customers to introduce new personal media players, including MP3 players, which are portable audio players that play music files that have been compressed to a fraction of their size using various audio compression technologies.
The company’s solutions include SoCs, firmware, software development tools and reference designs, for manufacturers of portable media players. The company provides integrated platform solutions to portable media player manufacturers, brand owners and distributors that enable them to accelerate the time-to-market for their products.
Products and Technology
The company provides various solutions along the MP3 player design and manufacturing value chain. For most of its value added distributor customers and certain contract manufacturer and brand owner customers, the company provided its system platform solution, which includes SoCs and solution development kits. The company provides its total solution, which includes system platform solution and detailed specifications of other required components and providers of those components.
System-on-a-Chip (SoC): The company's SoCs are integrated circuits that incorporate a digital signal processor, a micro controller unit, embedded memory, codec, a power management unit and other components. The company's SoCs are designed to be utilized for both flash memory based and HDD based personal media players with upgradeable firmware. SoCs for personal media players must address a range of requirements, including high performance, low cost, high levels of system integration and low power consumption. The company utilizes a system architecture that incorporates an optimized algorithm with an embedded task management system. The company’s SoC products also include on-chip memory, controllers for color liquid crystal display, and analog components, including digital-to-analog converters, phase lock loops and USB transceivers.
Solution Development Kits: The company's solution development kits, or SDKs, include the embedded firmware code, software tools and documentation necessary to develop and mass produce MP3 players. The company's firmware utilizes an embedded structure design with standard interface that allows its customers to pick and choose functionalities and add new device drivers, which in turn lowers their development complexity for new products and accelerates product time-to-market.
Reference Designs: The company’s total solutions include its SoCs, SDKs and reference designs that include detailed specifications of other required components and references to the providers of those components, which, together, allow those customers to assemble a portable media player. The company’s total solutions enable its customers to minimize the time and effort associated with design, development and production of new products.
Sales
The company sells its SoCs and provides system platforms and total solutions in China and world-wide through distribution arrangements and through its direct sales force to distributors, contract manufacturers and, in instances, to brand owners.
Subsidiaries
As of December 31, 2006, the subsidiaries of the company include: Actions Semiconductor Co., Ltd.; Actions Semiconductor Co., Ltd.; Actions Technology (HK) Company Limited; Actions Microelectronics Co., Ltd.; Artek Microelectrics Co., Ltd.; Beijing Actions North Microelectronics Co., Ltd.; Artek Microelectronics (HK) Co., Limited; Actions Capital Investment, Inc.; Artek Microelectronics Co., Ltd.; and Actions Investment Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Customers
During 2006, the company’s major customers included Power Radio; Jess Technology; Hong Kong Beta Power; Sino-Mos Electronics; and Prescope Technology.
Competition
The company competes with SoC platform providers, such as ALi, Broadcom, Philips Semiconductor, PortalPlayer, Rockchip, Samsung, SigmaTel, Sunplus, Telechips and Texas Instruments.
Significant Events
In January 2006, the company established a subsidiary Artek Microelectronics Co., Ltd., which serves as its second sales and customer support center in Hong Kong.
In February 2006, the company established a subsidiary Actions Capital Investment, Inc. in the British Virgin Islands, through which it would invest in or acquire technologies or companies complimentary to its operations.
In March 2006, the company established Artek Microelectronics Co., Ltd., in Shenzhen, China, which serves as a part of its sales office and houses the technology service center.
In November 2006, the company established Actions Investment Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. in Shanghai, China, which serves as one of its management service center.
History
Actions Semiconductor Co., Ltd. was formed in 2001. The company was formerly known as Cristo Capital, Inc. and changed its name to Actions Semiconductor Co., Ltd. in 2005.
