More spending on chips for mobile devices than computers in 2011

By comparison, spending on computer semiconductors in 2011 reached $53.7 billion, up 4% from $51.8 billion in 2010.

Spending on mobile device chips topped that for computers first in 2009, but IHS said the shift in microchip spending in 2011 is part of a more decisive shift.

By next year, wireless spending is projected to soar to $72.9 billion, IHS said, while spending on computer semiconductors will remain flat at $53.4 billion.

Wireless comprises 24% of the world’s semiconductor spending, making it the largest of 10 segments, IHS said.

Wenlie Ye, an analyst at IHS, said Apple’s success with the iPhone and iPad highlight the importance of wireless in semiconductor purchasing. Apple spent more than any maker on semiconductors for tablets in 2011 — $4.6 billion — while Samsung spent $603 million and HTC spend $199 million.

Ye predicted that tablets will help wireless grow in the next two years, but said mobile phones and smartphones will still make up the lion’s share of wireless semiconductor spending.

Overall semiconductor spending for all segments grew to $240.6 billion in 2011, up 5% from $230.1 billion in 2010, IHS said. That growth was modest when compared with a 32% expansion in 2010 following a 13% contraction in 2009.

IHS tracks 191 companies that buy semiconductors, accounting for nearly 80% of the trade.