Unitech and Career to enter RIM's supply chain

Research In Motion (RIM) is planning to increase its component sourcing from Taiwan with Unitech Printed Circuit Board and Career Technology expected to benefit, according to market sources,

The two Taiwan companies declined to comment.

Due to cost concerns, RIM is continuing to look for outsource opportunities this year. Industry players indicated Unitech and Career are RIM's new PCB and FPCB suppliers respectively. Unitech received 2+n+2, 3+n+3 and 4+n+4 high-density interconnect (HDI) orders; Career will supply bare surface mount technology (SMT) PCBs and may also receive module orders in 2009. RIM's current PCB supplier is Austria-based AT&S and for FPCB, it's US-based Multi-Fineline Electronix (M-Flex), the sources indicated.

The sources pointed out that Ichia Technologies and Unimicron Technology are also interested in securing RIM's PCB and FPCB orders. Those companies also declined to comment on the news.

Sales from RIM would only account for a single-digit proportion of Unitech and Career's total sales currently.