ASMedia explores USB 3.0 chip orders

TAIPEI: ASMedia Technology, a subsidiary of Asustek Computer, is insistently looking for USB 3.0 chip orders from many motherboard manufacturers and is offering prices under US$3 per unit to contend against NEC's US$6.

SMedia's USB 3.0 chip is anticipated to begin mass shipments by the end of June during 2010.

The sources indicated that, Asustek has already reassigned each and every one of its USB 3.0 orders to ASMedia with Micro-Star International (MSI), Gigabyte Technology and Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) anticipated reassigning their orders later on.

With many orders from Asustek, ASMedia is anticipated to ship 10 million USB 3.0 chip in the year 2010, accounting to half of the estimated international shipments.

In the meantime, another USB 3.0 chip manufacturer VIA Technology has also already submitted its USB 3.0 solution for assessment by motherboard makers and is projected to begin mass shipments in the fourth quarter of 2010.