From $2007 in 87 million to $2015 in 1.355 billion revenue, the British London Fabless semiconductor company Dialog at 41% CAGR maintained a rapid growth, to become the world's one of the fastest growing semiconductor manufacturers.

Mr Dialog CEO and executive director Jalal Bagherli and development and strategy, senior vice President Mark Tyndall set micro network reporter interview, reading even one by one.

About the growth

Dialog, Jalal modest says, in had a very good opportunity to grasp the market direction, from early times of multimedia player to smartphone, Dialog with the advantage of the power management platform, grow up quickly.

At present, the Dialog products based on mobile systems, power transformation and connectivity, audio, and industrial layout, three areas including mobile system department of revenue accounted for as high as 82% (sales division in 2015), smart phones and tablets of power management IC (PMIC) market share ranking the first; Connectivity sector revenue accounted for 11%, with low power consumption bluetooth connection chip is given priority to, only 2015 a year was 30 million pieces of shipments, as of the second quarter of this year, this series of products shipped more than 50 million, is expected to achieve 100% growth this year. Although switching power sector revenue accounted for only 7%, but in the field of quick charge market share has reached to 70%.

For the first quarter of 2016 Dialog only $241 million in revenue fell 22%, Jalal explained, on the one hand, because in the first quarter of the year are traditional off-season, and on every Chinese New Year, this year because of the cause of the smartphone and tablet market slowdown evident. In consumer goods such as hands-free phones and, on the other hand, in the field of automobile products, a one-time periodic inventory reason, the second half of the year there will be significantly better.

IDC's latest report shows that 2015 is likely to be smartphone shipments to achieve double-digit growth last year, is expected to global smartphone shipments of 1.5 billion units in 2016, an increase of only 5.7%. TrendForce latest tablet shipments, according to a report in the first quarter of 2016 global tablet shipment 35.2 million, quarter decline up to 35%, compared with the same period last year 7.9% decline. Based on existing smartphone and tablet market slowdown of the status quo, to a certain extent affect the Dialog state of revenue this year.

But Jalal pointed out that the Dialog is in the product transition period this year, will restore to the rapid growth in 2017. Its products cover almost all the consumer goods market, it is a huge market, there will always be a niche present outbreak of growth, the Dialog is actively expand product lines, seize new market opportunities.

With mobile phone market to do the case before the Dialog can only offer a power management chip, Dialog in the future there will be fast charger, audio even sensor products import, increase single chip shipments. Dialog, on the other hand, also in consumer goods in the targeting Asian markets, especially positioning in China and the republic of Korea, the positive response to the market needs of customers, more suitable for the market. Finally, the active layout wearable, smart home and the Internet of things (IoT), and other fields is also a way of Dialog to maintain rapid growth.

About the new market

All Internet era, all products have to solve is the connectivity first. In power management chip technology accumulation, after only a year and a half time, Dialog of low-power bluetooth chip with high integration, low power consumption features such as popular among wearable equipment manufacturers, millet bracelet is its biggest partners. According to market research firm IDC report shows, millet bracelets shipments for the whole year of 12 million, 2015 and 2015 Dialog bluetooth chip shipment 30 million pieces, low power consumption accounted for 40%.

According to Gartner predicted earlier this year, the 2016 global wearable device shipments will reach 274.6 million units, more than 2015 shipments grew by 18.4% in 232 million, while 2016 wearable equipment sales will total $28.7 billion, wearable products is rapidly into the human life and change the human way of life. Intelligent wearable products in the Chinese people is a huge potential of emerging markets, wearable devices currently in possession of the Chinese market is still small, has huge potential. Based on the confidence of its low power consumption bluetooth products, Jalal confidence in the outbreak of the wearable market.

On May 12, in order to solve the headset market fragmentation, change quickly, the Dialog open new SmartBeat DA14195 + DA7217 audio platform. This product USES the small 0.4 mm spacing WLCSP encapsulation, provide extremely low power consumption and excellent processing performance, bring to the mass consumer market of high-end professional headset performance, including environmental and echo noise elimination, virtual surround sound and voice control, support bluetooth, USB, compatible with USB 3.0 TypeC interface and makes the immersed enjoy the beautiful sound quality. According to the Dialog project director, this product is made in the fourth quarter of this year is expected to measure, in the smartphone preemption pouring Type C, under the trend of believe more support Type C, synchronizing the headset is not only the Gospel of the mass consumers, again confirm Dialog unique market vision.

Active layout in audio market, not only in the sensor market also can see the shadow of the Dialog. As we all know, the more wearable products currently on the market is given priority to with simple health monitoring bracelet, function is relatively single. What other new features for future wearable products? Development and strategic Dialog, senior vice President Mark Tyndall said, believe that there will be a continuity of health monitoring function, but is not only a heart rate monitor, there may be aging heart rate monitoring, monitoring of blood sugar and water in the body metabolism, even watch the medical health area, at present there are still a lot of new science and technology need to be developed.

According to Mark, Dialog and Taiwan, south of science and technology development of new medical use sensors with foxconn, corresponding products is expected to launch in the second quarter of next year.

About the purchase and cooperation

Last September, to supplement the layout in the Internet of things market products, announced the Dialog in the form of stock and cash acquisition of Atmel acquisition price of $4.6 billion at the time, but eventually failed because of the Microchip rob close to exit, received a $137.3 million break-up fee ".

Jalal concluded, the price is not the main reason. This is a cross-border mergers and acquisitions, due to the regulations of different countries and of the different nature of business, merger and acquisition process is slow, frequent accident, and the intervention of competitors, make Dialog failed deal, but the Dialog will not affect the initial offer by a competitor's bid. Although the result is not satisfied, m&a is a complex thing, not easy for any company. Jalal, points out that the Dialog will rely on own ability, current continuous attention related enterprise, aim to supplement the MCU and connectivity aspects such as product line.

For the Chinese market, Jalal revealed, Dialog in the observation of the Chinese government still what are the new money policy and institutions, to seek more partners. He thought that the characteristics of the Chinese market is more sensitive to the price, the Dialog will do research and development for the Chinese market, rather than simply sell the north American market products to China. As for the partner's request, the Dialog hope each other have good manufacturing capacity, can reduce cost, at the same time have a good market channels, and systems companies to maintain good relations of cooperation, which will help the rapid growth of the market.