The beginning of 2015 was excellent for Apple as the sales of iPhone 6 and iPhone 5S remained strong. The total shipment of iPhones in the first quarter was over 60 million units, exceeding the market expectations. As the second quarter is drawing to a close, the smartphone market shifts its attention to the next-generation iPhone (iPhone 6S or iPhone 7). Interests on the next iPhone's future sales results are growing as more information about its specs have been leaked to the public.
The global DRAM revenue fell by 7.5% QoQ in 1Q15, with revenue totaling $12 billion, according to DRAMeXchange, a division of TrendForce. The decline in the industry’s revenue is the result of the 11% quarterly decrease of the average DRAM contract price and the seasonality effects in the notebook and smartphone markets.
The NAND flash market is picking up thanks to the launching of new models in the smartphone market and the stock-up demand for upcoming iPhone, according to the latest report from DRAMeXchange, a division of TrendForce. The global research institution also estimates that the excess supply of NAND flash will be corrected in the third quarter.
According to DRAMeXchange, a division of TrendForce, smartphone shipments have been weak since the beginning of 2015. The decline in Q1 shipments was up to 9.2% QoQ. Although heavyweights Apple and Samsung are showing relatively strong shipments figures in Q2, significant smartphone growth is not expected for the quarter as channel inventory in China remains high.
Seeing massive growth potential in the Internet of Things (IoT) sector, technology giant IBM on March 31 announced that it will invest US$3 billion over the next four years to create a new IoT unit. Big Blue also announced that it will work with The Weather Company to provide weather data to unmanned aerial vehicles, buildings, and smartphones sensors, so operators of these IoT-based facilities and devices will be able to make the right business decisions.