TICA spotlights booming ICT sector

2014-08-06

The Taipei Computer Application Show (TICA) wrapped up Aug. 4, attracting over 600,000 visitors to 1,100 booths operated by more than 200 exhibitors from home and abroad.

“TICA was a major success,” event organizer Taipei Computer Association said. “Sales and spending numbers during the five-day show increased 30 percent and 33.27 percent, respectively, from the year before.”

The healthy numbers were driven by fourth-generation information communications technology offerings and consumer desire to upgrade to the latest products. In addition, the TICA debut of U.S.-based Blizzard Entertainment Inc. and its launch of the Chinese version of “World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor” helped generate increased interest in the event.

“This trend augurs well for the development of the ICT sector for the second half of the year,” the association said.

On the sales front, notebook computers accounted for the lion’s share at 54 percent followed by digital cameras, 14 percent; cell phones, 9 percent; and tablets, 6 percent. The remainder comprised a range of products such as tachographs and wearable devices.

Notebooks designed for gaming with strong 3-D functions and audio and video effects, as well as lightweight units, proved extremely popular. Consumers spent an average NT$19,000 (US$633) to NT$22,000 on average.

Digital cameras, mainly mid- to high-end single-lens reflex models, sold like hot cakes, with waterproof products similarly in demand. The sector achieved sales growth of 20 percent year on year.

The event also saw fever-pitch attention surrounding 4-G smart phones. Major Taiwan carriers such as Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd., Far Eastone Telecommunications Co. Ltd., Taiwan Mobile Co. Ltd. and Taiwan Star Cellular Corp. fielded numerous sales and subscription enquiries.

Similarly, printers and peripherals generated great interest. Home units were the top sellers, with cell phones, tablet and WiFi-based camera models also popular. Overall, sector sales soared by 50 percent from last year.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=220309&CtNode=413)