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MediaTek Inc.

Companies/Taiwan  •  Curated by Admin Timeline.sg

MediaTek Inc. is a Taiwanese fabless semiconductor company that designs chips for wireless communications, HDTV, DVD and Blu-ray players. Founded in 1997, it has grown through key product launches and strategic acquisitions to become a global leader in mobile chipset and IoT solutions.

Chronological Storyline (42 Milestones)

May 28, 1997 CE

MediaTek founded

MediaTek Inc. is founded in Hsinchu, Taiwan, by former United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) employees, including Ming-Kai Tsai. The company starts as a spin-off from UMC's multimedia chipset division. #tech #semiconductor #Taiwan

Dec 1, 1997 CE

First product: CD-ROM chipset

MediaTek launches its first product, a CD-ROM chipset, which quickly gains market share due to its integration and cost-effectiveness. This establishes the company as a major player in optical disc drive chips. #tech #semiconductor

Jun 1, 1999 CE

DVD-ROM chipset launch

MediaTek introduces its DVD-ROM chipset, capturing a significant portion of the global market. The product's success drives rapid revenue growth for the young company. #tech #semiconductor

Jul 23, 2001 CE

IPO on Taiwan Stock Exchange

MediaTek goes public on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) under the ticker 2454. The IPO raises capital for expanding R&D and entering new markets like mobile phones. #finance #IPO #Taiwan

Jan 1, 2003 CE

Entry into mobile phone chips

MediaTek announces its first mobile phone baseband chipset, targeting the emerging market for low-cost handsets. This move marks a strategic pivot from optical storage to wireless communications. #tech #mobile

Dec 1, 2004 CE

Revenue milestone: US$1 billion

MediaTek reports annual revenue exceeding US$1 billion for the first time, driven by its dominance in DVD and mobile chip markets. This solidifies its position as a top global fabless semiconductor company. #finance #semiconductor

Sep 1, 2005 CE

Turnkey solution for mobile phones

MediaTek introduces a complete turnkey platform (MT6205) for GSM mobile phones, enabling Chinese and Taiwanese OEMs to rapidly produce feature phones. This 'one-stop-shop' approach revolutionizes the industry. #tech #mobile #innovation

May 1, 2007 CE

Becomes world's largest designer of mobile chipset

MediaTek surpasses competitors to become the largest supplier of mobile phone chipsets by volume, shipping over 100 million units annually. The company gains a strong foothold in developing markets. #tech #mobile #milestone

Oct 1, 2008 CE

Acquisition of Ralink Technology

MediaTek acquires Ralink Technology, a Taiwanese wireless LAN chipset maker, for about US$200 million. This adds WiFi and broadband connectivity expertise to MediaTek's portfolio. #acquisition #tech #networking

Mar 1, 2010 CE

First smartphone chipset: MT6573

MediaTek launches its first Android smartphone chipset, the MT6573, featuring a 650MHz ARM11 processor. This marks the company's entry into the smartphone market, targeting low-cost devices. #tech #smartphone #Android

Sep 1, 2011 CE

MT6575: First Cortex-A9 chip

MediaTek introduces the MT6575, its first chipset with a Cortex-A9 CPU, offering improved performance for entry-level smartphones. This helps the company gain traction with Chinese OEMs. #tech #smartphone #chip

May 1, 2012 CE

Acquisition of MStar Semiconductor

MediaTek agrees to acquire MStar Semiconductor, a leading LCD TV chipmaker, in a deal valued at US$3.8 billion. The acquisition strengthens MediaTek's position in the home entertainment market. #acquisition #tech #TV

Dec 1, 2012 CE

First quad-core smartphone chip: MT6589

MediaTek unveils the MT6589, a quad-core Cortex-A7 chipset for budget smartphones, beating rivals to market with a cost-effective multi-core solution. This further cements its leadership in developing markets. #tech #smartphone #chip

Apr 1, 2013 CE

Announces first octa-core chipset

MediaTek announces the MT6592, the world's first true octa-core mobile processor (Cortex-A7). The chip is launched in November 2013 and powers many mid-range smartphones. #tech #smartphone #innovation

Jan 1, 2014 CE

Introduction of the Helio brand

MediaTek launches the Helio brand for its high-end mobile processors, starting with the Helio X10 (MT6795). This marks an effort to move beyond budget chips and compete with Qualcomm in premium devices. #tech #branding #mobile

Jul 1, 2014 CE

Merger with Ralink completed

MediaTek fully integrates Ralink Technology, enhancing its connectivity product lines including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. The combined company boosts its R&D capabilities. #acquisition #integration

Dec 1, 2014 CE

Revenue reaches US$7.2 billion

MediaTek reports record annual revenue of US$7.2 billion, driven by strong demand for smartphone chips in China. The company ranks as the world's fifth-largest fabless semiconductor firm. #finance #semiconductor

May 1, 2015 CE

Helio X20: first tri-cluster CPU

MediaTek releases the Helio X20 with a unique tri-cluster CPU (two Cortex-A72 cores, four Cortex-A53, and four Cortex-A53) to balance performance and power. The chip is used in several mid-range phones. #tech #innovation

Oct 1, 2015 CE

Acquisition of Richtek Technology

MediaTek acquires Richtek Technology, a Taiwanese power management IC designer, for approximately US$1.3 billion. This expands MediaTek's analog and power chip capabilities. #acquisition #analog

Apr 1, 2016 CE

Partnership with Xiaomi

MediaTek becomes a key chip supplier for Xiaomi's Redmi series. The partnership helps MediaTek reach millions of budget smartphone users, especially in India and Southeast Asia. #partnership #smartphone #China

Dec 1, 2016 CE

Launches MT7697 IoT chipset

MediaTek enters the Internet of Things (IoT) market with the MT7697, a low-power chip supporting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The move diversifies the company beyond mobile and home entertainment. #tech #IoT

Oct 1, 2017 CE

Becomes top chip supplier for home entertainment

MediaTek's chips power over 60% of the world's digital TVs, set-top boxes, and Blu-ray players, thanks to its acquisition of MStar and continuous innovation. #tech #TV #marketleadership

2017 CE

Helio P23 and P30 mid-range chips

MediaTek launches the Helio P23 and P30 chipsets targeting mid-range devices, featuring improved AI capabilities and dual-camera support. These help regain market share from competitors. #tech #smartphone

Mar 1, 2018 CE

Appoints CEO Dr. Rick Tsai

Dr. Rick Tsai, former CEO of TSMC, is appointed CEO of MediaTek, replacing Ming-Kai Tsai who remains Chairman. This leadership change aims to drive technology advancements and global expansion. #leadership #management

Dec 1, 2018 CE

First 7nm mobile chipset: Helio P90

MediaTek unveils the Helio P90, its first chipset manufactured on a 7nm process, featuring a powerful AI processing unit (APU) for enhanced camera and performance in mid-range devices. #tech #semiconductor #innovation

Nov 26, 2019 CE

Dimensity 5G platform announced

MediaTek announces the Dimensity 1000, its first 5G smartphone chipset, integrated with a 5G modem and 7nm manufacturing. The platform aims to bring 5G to premium and mid-range phones globally. #5G #tech #smartphone

Jan 7, 2020 CE

Dimensity 5G chipset launch at CES

MediaTek showcases its Dimensity 5G platform at CES 2020, including the Dimensity 800 series. The chips quickly adopted by Chinese OEMs like Redmi and OPPO. #5G #CES #tech

May 1, 2020 CE

Acquires Intel's baseband business

MediaTek acquires Intel's baseband chip business, including IP and assets, for US$218 million. The deal strengthens MediaTek's connectivity portfolio for laptops and IoT applications. #acquisition #5G #Intel

Nov 1, 2020 CE

Becomes top smartphone chipset maker by volume

MediaTek surpasses Qualcomm to become the world's largest smartphone chipset vendor in terms of shipments, driven by strong demand for budget and mid-range 4G and 5G chips in China and emerging markets. #milestone #smartphone #market

Jan 1, 2021 CE

Dimensity 1200 flagship announced

MediaTek announces the Dimensity 1200, its flagship 5G chip with a 6nm process, ARM Cortex-A78 cores, and advanced AI and gaming features. It powers high-end devices from Xiaomi, Realme, and Vivo. #tech #5G #flagship

Jul 1, 2021 CE

Launches Genio IoT platform

MediaTek launches the Genio family of IoT chipsets, focusing on smart home, industrial, and AI edge applications. This expands its footprint beyond mobile and TV. #IoT #tech #platform

Nov 1, 2021 CE

Acquires Advantech's silicon division

MediaTek acquires Advantech's silicon division, adding edge computing and industrial IoT solutions to its portfolio. The deal enhances its capabilities in automation and smart manufacturing. #acquisition #IoT #industrial

Jan 1, 2022 CE

Dimensity 9000: first 4nm chip

MediaTek launches the Dimensity 9000, its first chipset built on TSMC's 4nm process, featuring Cortex-X2 cores and a Mali-G710 GPU. The chip competes with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in flagship smartphones. #tech #4nm #flagship

May 1, 2022 CE

Revenue hits record US$18.7 billion

MediaTek reports record annual revenue of US$18.7 billion for 2021, fueled by strong global demand for 5G, IoT, and automotive chips. The company ranks as the world's fourth-largest fabless IC designer. #finance #record #semiconductor

Dec 1, 2022 CE

Launches Dimensity 8200

MediaTek releases the Dimensity 8200, a mid-range 5G chipset with a 4nm process, focusing on gaming and camera performance. It extends the Dimensity family to a broader price segment. #tech #5G #chip

Feb 1, 2023 CE

Penghu (Penghu) chipset for premium TVs

MediaTek unveils the Pentonic 2000, its flagship TV chipset, supporting 8K resolution, HDMI 2.1, and advanced AI processing. It is adopted by Sony, Samsung, and other TV makers. #tech #TV #8K

May 1, 2023 CE

Dimensity 9300: all big core CPU

MediaTek announces the Dimensity 9300, a flagship chip with an all-big-core CPU design (four Cortex-X4 and four Cortex-A720), delivering significant performance improvements and energy efficiency. #tech #innovation #flagship

Nov 1, 2023 CE

Partners with NVIDIA for automotive

MediaTek announces a partnership with NVIDIA to develop a new platform for software-defined vehicles, integrating MediaTek's SoCs with NVIDIA's GPU and AI technologies. #partnership #automotive #AI

Jan 9, 2024 CE

Dimensity Auto at CES 2024

MediaTek showcases its Dimensity Auto platform at CES 2024, a comprehensive solution for connected and autonomous vehicles, including smart cockpit and ADAS systems. #CES #automotive #tech

May 1, 2024 CE

Launches Kompanio 500 for Chromebooks

MediaTek introduces the Kompanio 500 series chips for budget Chromebooks, targeting the education market with improved performance and battery life. The chips are adopted by Lenovo and HP. #tech #Chromebook #education

Oct 1, 2024 CE

Dimensity 9400 with ray tracing

MediaTek announces the Dimensity 9400, its first mobile chipset with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, enhancing gaming graphics. The chip is built on TSMC's 3nm process, marking a leap in mobile gaming performance. #tech #gaming #3nm

2025 CE

MediaTek surpasses US$20 billion revenue

MediaTek achieves annual revenue exceeding US$20 billion for the first time, driven by diversification into automotive, IoT, and AI edge computing, alongside strong mobile chip sales. #finance #milestone #semiconductor