Yesterday, I wrote a blog about the chip makers for Shanzhai version of iPads. More correctly, they should be tablet computer with Android operating system.
While a VC told me 60% of their chips come from a Fuzhou based chip maker, called Rockchip, Technode readers, Timothy Chen and Tim, said Telechips and WonderMedia are even bigger.
I have yet to checked them all out. But it definitely is an interesting question. Taiwan based chip maker MediaTek built its empire by supplying chips to Shanzhai ji (or Shanzhai mobile phones). At one time it supplied the chips of 90% of the Shanzhai ji. The monopoly was only recently broken by Shanghai based Spreadtrum.
If a chip maker can control the Android pad market, it will be another great company. If readers of Technode know any more information about the Shanzhai iPad, please send us a note.
Hi Sherman, I think its absolutely MediaTek’s success that has pushed some of the SOC companies to move so aggressively into the tablet market in hopes of having similar success.
If any of the Chinese tablets do achieve significant success it would also be interesting to see how Apple would react. If they have the will to chase after Samsung and sue their own supplier it might be interesting to see how they might treat a successful shanzhai player.
Yes, I think it is interesting to see what will come out from Apple’s lawsuit with Samsung. I am not a lawyer, so I don’t know if Samsung has broken any laws. But to me, as an end user, I definitely think Samsung’s Galaxy is a copy cat of Apple’s iPhone.
Apple probably is aware of the Shanzhai players, too, but they are too small to pursuit legal action against. So, it sues Samsung. To set example that there are consequence for stealing other’s ideas. Whether the judges with agree with Apple is, however, questionable.
But, in spirit, I am with Apple. Companies should innovate rather than copy what is hot.