USA: According to Gartner's Semiconductor DQ Monday Report, the top 100 OEMs consumed semiconductors worth $209 billion during 2007, or 76 percent of all chips sold last year.

Data processing and communications electronics are the leading application areas, followed by consumer electronics, industrial and automotive.

Among the OEM consumers, HP was ranked no. 1, followed by Nokia, Dell and Samsung, respectively.

Report author, Alfonso Velosa, a Gartner research director, said: “The semiconductor industry's opportunity lies in enabling the branded electronics firms to experiment and develop innovative products quickly enough, thus facilitating niche markets. We look forward to these developments."