"MEMS: Bosch acquires MEMS microphone pioneer Akustica"

With the MEMS microphone market growing quickly, and most established players like Knowles Acoustics getting the lion's share, Bosch's brand could lend a hand to Akustica who was just acquired by the German giant. Look for Akustica to capitalize on Bosch's extensive worldwide network to boost sales almost immediately. R.C.J.


MEMS microphone pioneer Akustica Inc. has been acquired by Robert Bosch North America and will become part of its MEMS division, Bosch Sensortec GmbH (Reutlingen, Germany). All of Pittsburgh-based Akustica's employees will be hired by Bosch, and the new company will continue to operate as an independent, wholly-owned subsidiary at Akustica's U.S. headquarters. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The companies claim that the MEMS market will reach $2.5 billion worldwide by 2012, and that the microphone market is fastest growing segment at annual rate of greater than 30 percent, which they say is on track to ship a billion units by 2012.
Text: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=219400704