Consumer Electronics Applications Drive Asia-Pacific Embedded Design - Global Sources-Gartner Survey HONG KONG, March 7 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Global Sources (NASDAQ:GSOL) publication Electronic Engineering Times-Asia and Gartner, Inc. (NYSE:ITNYSE:andNYSE:ITB) today announced the results of a joint study: Embedded Systems Development Trends: Asia. More than 900 engineers across Asia participated in the survey, which showed demand for embedded systems in the Asia-Pacific region is strongest in the consumer electronics sector, with 28 percent of respondents citing it as the primary area of application for their designs. (Logos: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030303/LNM011LOGO-b http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041008/HKF003LOGO ) Twenty-four percent cited communications as the primary focus of their design work, while 12 percent cited computers and computer peripherals. Forty-two percent of the survey respondents were based in Taiwan, 37 percent in mainland China, 7 percent in South Korea, and 14 percent in the rest of the region. Commenting on the survey, Mark A. Saunderson, publisher of Electronic Engineering Times-Asia, said: "Asia's designers are using more embedded devices to match the growing complexity of electronic designs. In China alone, microcomponent demand will reach US$5.4 billion in 2005, an increase of 23 percent from 2004. 'The results of the latest survey indicate that Asia's designers are shifting their development focus. In our first two surveys, communications was the leading application segment for embedded designs, followed by consumer electronics.' Growing use of high-end microcomponents The survey also found significant usage of high-end components, with 43 percent of engineers currently using 32-bit microcomponents. In 2005, the proportion of those using 64-bit microcomponents is expected to reach 12 percent, from 6 percent in 2004. Gartner's Principal Analyst for its Design & Engineering Group, Daya Nadamuni, said: 'Asia's designers are turning to microcomponents that provide greater processing power and more memory. As these engineers switch to 32-bit and 64-bit architectures, usage of 8-bit microcomponents will drop. Only 16 percent of those surveyed plan to use 8-bit microprocessors in the next 12 months-compared to 43 percent who are currently doing so." Other survey findings: -- Most respondents use C and Assembly languages for firmware development, and most rely on C, Assembly and C++ for application development. This result is consistent with previous surveys. -- In 2005, the proportion of designers using Java in firmware development is expected to rise from 12 percent in 2004 to 29 percent. The proportion of those using Java for applications development will reach 31 percent, up from 14 percent in 2004. -- As in previous surveys, the three most popular real-time operating systems (RTOS) used in embedded design are Wind River Systems, Microsoft Windows CE and non-commercial Linux. More designers are planning to use non-commercial Linux in 2005, and the proportion that use this open-source software will increase from 27 percent at present to 31 percent. -- Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed selected clear documentation as a 'very critical' factor in selecting an RTOS vendor, while 56 percent said customer support capabilities were also highly important. These rankings are consistent with previous surveys. Full results of the Embedded Systems Development Trends: Asia survey are now available at the EE Times-Asia website at http://www.eetasia.com/ . About Global Sources Global Sources is a leading business-to-business (B2B) media company that facilitates global trade, with a particular focus on the China market, by providing information to international buyers and integrated marketing services to suppliers. We deliver content to our communities through our leading network of nine vertical marketplaces and 13 geographic portals, and through magazines, CD- ROMs and private catalogs, as well as China Sourcing Fairs and technical events. Our flagship marketplace, Global Sources Online (http://www.globalsources.com/), hosts more marketing and sourcing activity than any other global merchandise trade marketplace. We serve a growing, independently certified community of more than 423,000 active buyers in over 230 countries and territories. These buyers generate more than 4 million inquiries annually for more than 130,000 suppliers through Global Sources Online alone. We offer extensive creative services and export consultation through 150 client service officers in Greater China and other leading supply markets, and through more than 800 sales representatives who make approximately 40,000 supplier visits monthly. In mainland China, we have 23 years on-the-ground presence, supported by more than 1,100 team members in 44 locations throughout the country. Global Sources' solutions are based on 34 years as a trade magazine publisher serving the global trade community, 14 years as a trade management software developer, 13 years as manager of trade shows in Asia, and nine years as an online marketplace operator. Electronic Engineering Times-Asia is published by eMedia Asia Ltd., a joint venture between Global Sources and CMP Media LLC., a leading integrated media company providing essential information and marketing services to the entire technology spectrum. The joint venture is a leading provider of new technology content, in print and online for the 150,000-plus technology specialists that drive the electronics industry in China and Asia. eMedia Asia Ltd. serves this community's ongoing need for the right information, at the right time through its integrated, local-language web networks, premier technical events and industry leading publications -- Electronics Supply & Manufacturing-China and Electronic Engineering Times-Asia. About Gartner, Inc. Gartner, Inc. (NYSE:ITNYSE:andNYSE:ITB) is the leading provider of research and analysis on the global information technology industry. Gartner serves more than 10,000 clients, including chief information officers and other senior IT executives in corporations and government agencies, as well as technology companies and the investment community. The Company focuses on delivering objective, in-depth analysis and actionable advice to enable clients to make more informed business and technology decisions. The Company's businesses consist of Research and Events for IT professionals; Gartner Executive Programs, membership programs and peer networking services; and Gartner Consulting, customized engagements with a specific emphasis on outsourcing and IT management. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and has more than 3,500 associates, including approximately 1,000 research analysts and consultants, in more than 75 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.gartner.com/ . Global Sources contact in US: James Strachan Tel: +1-602-978-7504 Fax: +1-602-978-7512 Email: Global Sources Investor contact: Kirsten Chapman & Moriah Shilton Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc. Tel: +1-415-433-3777 Fax: +1-415-433-5577 Email: Global Sources contact in Asia: Camellia So Tel: +852-2555-5023 Fax: +852-2518-8764 Email: Gartner contact: Tom McCall Tel: +1-408-468-8101 Fax: +1-408-468-8076 Email: Web Sites: http://www.gartner.com http://www.eetasia.com http://www.globalsources.com http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030303/LNM011LOGO-b http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041008/HKF003LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Global Sources Ltd. CONTACT: James Strachan, +1-602-978-7504, or fax, +1-602-978-7512, or , or Camellia So, +852-2555-5023, or fax, +852-2518-8764, or , both of GSOL; Investor contact - Kirsten Chapman & Moriah Shilton of Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc., +1-415-433-3777, or fax, +1-415-433-5577, or , for GSOL; Tom McCall of Gartner, +1-408-468-8101, or fax, +1-408-468-8076, or

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