Wolfson Microelectronics Share Discussion Threads

[domtheone] 15/10/2012 11:32

Seems that nothing can get buyers here.

Volume dire, all the time.

Hope they're understating todays RNS..

SP under pressure of late yet seemingly, most news is positive.

2 more weeks and we'll see if sub 200p is coming again.

Somebody do us a favour and make a bid lol.

[fabzzz] 11/10/2012 17:09

couple of snippets re samsung; first piece re new note ii yet to be confirmed.



Samsung Galaxy Note 2 features same HD audio chip as Galaxy S3
October 10, 2012, 18:23 [IST]
One of the key reasons for the success of Samsung Galaxy S3 was the amazing sound quality. The audio chip that was used in the device was developed and manufactured by Wolfson. Samsung users especially Galaxy Note 2 users now have reason to cheer about. The same audio chip is used in Samsung Galaxy Note 2 as well. This was confirmed by Wolfson who stated that the WM1811 HD Audio Hub will be featured in the newly launched Samsung Galaxy Note 2.
Some of the key features of WM1811 HD Audio Hub are the crystal clear voice quality and improved audio playback capability. The audio chip is tailored to suit the minimal battery consumption requirements of the Smartphone. Users will be able to enjoy listening to their favorite tracks with better sound effects and bass effects with this audio chip. Samsung is expecting similar boost in the sales of its Note 2 device compared to other successful Samsung Galaxy range of devices including its predecessor Galaxy Note.
For those who are unaware of Samsung Galaxy Note 2 multimedia phablet, it ships with a larger 5.5 inch Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen display with a standard resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. The display is much more improved having a TouchWiz UI. Corning Gorilla Glass 2 is used as a means of protection from dust and other materials. The device operates on Jelly Bean OS and is powered by a 1.6 GHz quad-core processor.
The device is being rolled out along with an S Pen stylus. Users can choose the device from two colours namely marble white and titanium grey



Samsung shrinks Galaxy S III
NBR staff | Thursday October 11, 2012 |
Apple has upsized the iPhone display. Now Samsung is releasing a smaller version of its S III. The two phones will meet in the middle.
Samsung said today it will release a downsized version of its flagship Android smartphone, the Galaxy S III, on Friday (initially in Europe).
The current Galaxy S III has a monster 4.8-inch display.
The shrunk-down model will feature a 4-inch display - the same size as Apple's recently released iPhone 5.
The "mini" option of the S III will sell alongside the larger version.
Beyond its smaller screen, other features are expected to be the same as the 4.8-inch Galaxy S3.
The new model was confirmed Samsung's president of mobile business, JK Shin.
Keep it thumbable
An Apple rep recently told NBR a key aim with the iPhone 5 was to increase screen size, but keep the handset "thumbable."
If one thumb can reach all parts of the screen, a phone can be used in one hand.
Some find a 4.8-inch screen just too large for that - as well as a sap on battery life.
One of NBR's few objections to the S3 has been it's just not thumbable. Samsung just took that objection off the table.
Toe-to-toe
During its last quarter, Apple sold 26 million iPhones (it did not break down sales by model). Over its first three days, the iPhone 5 sold five million, a new record for the company.
Samsung sold 50.5 million smartphones during its most recent quarter.
It does not break out individual model sales in its quarterly reports, but the company has said the S III sold 20 million during its first 100 days. It expects the handset, released in May, to sell 30 million by year's end.
On Monday, Samsung previewed its full-year earnings. The company said it would report a record profit of $US7.3 billion, or double last year.
Samsung did not breakout unit sales in its preview, but said stronger than expected smartphone and high-end TV sales had fuelled its growth.

[pjw956] 27/9/2012 18:34

even worse today ...

[pjw956] 21/9/2012 18:47

not a good finish today - whats up ?

[fabzzz] 17/9/2012 16:57

Little bit of interesting news as I don't think WLF were included in the original Kindle Fire - ifixit teardown of the new Kindle Fire HD shows a WLF CODEC included. Here's the link

[fabzzz] 13/9/2012 05:28

Amen to that....

Thought I'd post this piece in the Tempus column of the The Times today. Probably throw way, speculative words (can't find the research referred to) - I'd be quite surprised at any Apple design in, tho pleasantly so ....

iPhone

The device is not yet in the shops, but Edison Investment Research has been working out the stock market implications for the new iPhone. Imagination should do well out of the graphics, even if the shares are on a high rating. ARM Holdings will provide some content, as will Wolfson Microelectronics, though perhaps less so. Left out, CSR, "unlikely to gain presence in the new iPhone" and now the least exposed to wireless of all the UK chip companies.

[domtheone] 12/9/2012 17:01

Come and get us :-)

[domtheone] 05/9/2012 12:44

Monster volume so far today :-)

[johnward1234] 03/9/2012 14:35

you know what i can see this apple ban on samsung smartphones playing into samsung hands. I can see a future Samsung tv advert coming up Here it is folks the Samsung Galaxy s iii smartphone that apple didn't want you to see,touch,have or use.(why because its as good as any i-phone and a lot cheaper to buy.

[pjw956] 30/8/2012 20:54

and new samsung tablet - technology moves fast - apple will always be one step behind

[fabzzz] 30/8/2012 10:53

just a link that confirms WLF in Samsung Note 10.1



Personally, I would not get too het up about the apple - samsung battle in itself (ironically samsung itself is a major supplier to apple); it may bolster Windows platforms, nokia and lead to other market opportunities for WLF. The potential big carrots with WLF are being bought out or the "holy grail" of getting back in with apple. Just look at what has happened to Cirrus over the past couple of years (CRUS) and where their market cap now is. Also, the CSR deal is a step in Samsung vertically integrating supply chain, gain additional ip platforms and lessen dependence on external suppliers; perhaps the apple - samsung battle will lead to more supplier m&a as each tries to defend their position, access to ip etc. So, can WLF produce the killer tech and quality?

Think it will be an interesting few months ahead for the price (probably in both directions)

[glyn10] 29/8/2012 14:44

I am sure that Samsung will take it to the court of appeal for a final judgement.

[domtheone] 28/8/2012 23:04

Feared a 100p drop when I first saw the headline.

Hardly a sell off with nothing volume again. Probably some sell orders to be worked though.

Nothing WLF holders shouldn't expect though as it's never easy with this share.

Board will have to say something in 2 months i guess. Hopefully news of an Apple contract lol.

[pjw956] 28/8/2012 19:15

all down to apple v samsung ; and apple winning which will lead to bans on some oldere samsung products ; may eventually help as developers will push the point of difference away from apple - and towards android or similar development

[fabzzz] 28/8/2012 09:01

Fall out from apple us patent infringement victory against Samsung.

[brucie5] 28/8/2012 08:56

Chart in recovery mode, this morning a small pullback. All healthy, imho. DYOR.

[glyn10] 28/8/2012 08:55

ok, so whats happened to the share price that I am not aware of???!!

[domtheone] 24/8/2012 11:34

Didn't think WLF had any Apple connections any more.

Nice surprise if it is so.

Be in the 2 best selling smartphones on the planet if so..

[fabzzz] 20/8/2012 05:22

We probably should not overlook that it is the run up to an expected iphone release and from past experience the price has tended to tick up over the summer in potential expectation.

Here is something worth a read. Hopefully it has better grounding than the out of date article that appeared last year in Korea naming wolfson as a supplier and it may not be the codec slot but its great news if it turns out correct

This is from www.electronics.news.com.au 18 August

Semiconductor winners to benefit from Apple iPhone 5

FBR Capital Markets has released a report claiming the Apple iPhone 5 could "drive large volumes to critical device suppliers".

According to the report, "the iPhone 5 [is] not only one of the most important positive catalysts for Apple shares in 2012, but also one of the most important catalysts for the overall chip manufacturers and service providers, as well as competitors in the handset space."

FBR Capital Markets expects the device to sell as many as 250 million units with US$50 earnings per unit, "representing one of the largest single product opportunities in Apple's history."

The report names Qualcomm, Fairchild Semiconductor International, NXP Semiconductors and Wolfson Micro as semiconductor companies which may see massive profit boosts on the back of the iPhone 5.

"We expect the iPhone 5 to be a homerun driving large volumes to critical device suppliers; 50M–52M units could get built in 4Q12, well ahead of Street estimates," claims the report.

The upgrade of the hardware in the iPhone 5 to 4G LTE slim baseband modems could see QUALCOMM's baseband content grow from its current US$8 per iPhone 4S to US$15 to $18 in the iPhone 5.

Fairchild Semiconductors, with increased analogue and FET content in the handset and growing AC/DC content inthe device charger, could also benefit. Wolfson Micro is stated as being responsible for the new connector dock, and NXP as the supplier of NFC functionality.

Capitalising on recent rumours that Apple will include in-cell touchscreen display technology, FBR Capital Markets says the iPhone 5 launch numbers are likely to be limited by in-cell yields.

However, the analysts claim the shortage of 28nm basebands from QUALCOMM is unlikely to affect the iPhone 5 launch, because TSM will prioritise QUALCOMM over other chip customers to enable sufficient supply of the chip. In any case, Apple may have already stockpiled supply of 28nm slim 4G modems.

[domtheone] 17/8/2012 17:07

Edinburgh, UK, 15th August 2012 - Wolfson Microelectronics plc, a global leader in the design and development of mixed-signal semiconductors and High Definition (HD) Audio solutions for the consumer electronics market, has today announced that its digital signal processing (DSP) software ATLAS has been selected by Nokia for its Reaction Bluetooth® Headset.

Developed by Wolfson's Dynamic Hearing division, ATLAS is specifically designed to optimise the audio performance of Bluetooth® headsets. The software uses the microphone signals in the headset to capture the user's voice from the surrounding noise, thus improving the quality of the conversation.

Anthony Shilton, General Manager of Wolfson Dynamic Hearing, said: "ATLAS is optimised to help deliver crystal-clear audio and reduced background noise for Bluetooth® headsets, and it is great news that Nokia is featuring our software in its Reaction Bluetooth® Headset."

Nokia's Reaction Bluetooth® headset is completely automatic and features three microphones and automatic volume control to deliver amazingly clear audio and help block out background noise.

[domtheone] 17/8/2012 16:47

Yup.

Get your bids in. £350 Million (300p SP). Cash only please. Can't see any shareholder standing in the way of that given WLF's chequered history.

20% rise in a matter of a week or 2. Maybe it's on the way lol.

Looking at the last couple of trades there might be a bit more to come.

[glyn10] 14/8/2012 11:17

Get those bids in early to avoid dissapointment !!!!

[domtheone] 10/8/2012 19:48

There's nothing like a bit of deal talk to brighten up the day, so we thought you'd be interested in some insight on the subject from our investment specialists at Dow Jones Banking Intelligence.

By Rosemary Okolie

After CGI's swoop for Logica, dealmaking activity in the U.K.'s technology sector has been heating up. Most notable is the ongoing spate of overseas buyers targeting U.K.-based tech-centric companies, all looking to put their cash pile to use and bulk up on key technology trends, or ramp up exposure in Europe, in the hope of an eventual rebound.

All this has prompted recent speculation from the press and sell-side analysts alike, regarding which U.K. tech firm is likely next to cede independence to a cash-rich overseas rival: Wolfson Microelectronics and Telecity Group both feature.

Perennially rumored takeover targets Sage Group and ARM Holdings also make the list.

So far this year there have been 187 announced U.K. tech targeted M&A deals and while the majority of those (115) have been domestic transactions, foreign acquirers account for a notable 64% of the overall total deal-value, based on data from Dealogic.

Indeed, this space has certainly been relatively hot over recent years, with foreign bidders willing to fork out notable premiums for their U.K. prey: the infamous $11 billion acquisition of Autonomy by Hewlett-Packard last December representing what still remains the pinnacle.

Chip designer Wolfson ($337 million market cap) has been rumored in the past as a target: it has expertise in solutions including audio semiconductors, and boasts Samsung Electronics as one of its clients. Given the increasing emphasis on audio quality in the smartphones market, the company's long-term outlook seems solid. But Wolfson hasn't had an easy time following the loss of its key client Apple in 2008.

On the other hand, Telecity ($2.6 billion market cap) is deeply entrenched in a fast-growing segment and seems better positioned to create more value near-term as a standalone.

Only on Monday, the carrier-neutral data center operator, which has seen its stock soar some 95% over the last year–now trading at 14.1x 2012e Ebitda, a slight premium to its peers (11x average)–reported a 22% rise in first half revenue to £138 million and a 27% increase in pre-tax profits, fueled by consistent demand for its products and services.