Shipment value rose by 44.8% from approximately US$288 million in the third quarter of 2003 to NT$416 million in the fourth quarter, representing 23% year on year growth. With new launches of high-end models such as handsets with built-in Wi-Fi, GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) modules, and high definition QVGA (Quarter Video Graphics Adapter) displays by brand-name vendors in the fourth quarter of 2003, ASP (Average Selling Price) increased slightly from US$177 in the third quarter of 2003 to US$184 in the fourth quarter. Additionally, due to shortages of panel and passive components persisting from the third quarter of 2003, there was a slight increase in component prices which drove up PDA costs.

The share of PDA production outsourced to Taiwanese makers by international brand-name vendors successively increased from quarter to quarter throughout 2003. Thus, despite a dismal global PDA market, Taiwanese PDA shipment volume maintained growth and reached approximately 6.3 million units in 2003 from four million units in 2002, representing a 52.9% growth. Furthermore, Taiwanese shipment share of the global PDA market also grew from 33.4% in 2002 to 54.6% in 2003. In 2003, PDA has gone wireless, switching from a core value based on PIM (Personal Information Management) to other value-added developments such as Wi-Fi, GPS, and mobile phone capabilities to offset the decline of the stand-alone PDA market and extend PDA life cycle. PDA phones from European carriers and channel players are forming another market for Taiwanese PDA makers.

Market demand is anticipated to decrease in the first quarter of 2004 as the holiday demand subsides and products transition to new models.  Furthermore, supply of components such as small and medium-sized TFT LCD panel remains tight, and supplies for Taiwanese PDA makers will be limited as panel makers source more heavily to mobile phone and digital camera applications.