Wireless chip market grew 7.6 pct in 2007-iSuppli

NEW YORK, May 16 (Reuters) - Wireless chip growth outpaced the overall chip market in 2007 and Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) led with 24 percent chip revenue growth, helping it overtake Texas Instruments (TXN.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), according to a report from technology researcher iSuppli.

Wireless chip sales grew by 7.6 percent to $29.5 billion in 2007 compared with a 3.3 percent growth rate for the overall chip market, said iSuppli.

Qualcomm increased its share of the global mobile phone chip market to 19.1 percent in 2007 from 16.5 percent in 2006 while previous leader Texas Instruments saw its market share fall to 16.7 percent in 2007 from 19.4 percent in 2006.

While Qualcomm has been seeing growth in the market for chips used in high-end phones with fast Web links, TI has been losing market share to rivals such as STMicroelectronics (STM.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

STMicro jumped to third place in the wireless chip market in 2007 from fifth place in 2006, according to iSuppli which cited its 14.4 percent wireless revenue growth for 2007.

TI saw its wireless chip revenue fall 7.7 percent in 2007, while Ericsson (ERICb.ST: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) gave work to STMicro at TI's expense. Ericsson supplies chips to Nokia (NOK1V.HE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Sony Ericsson, owned by Sony Corp (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Ericsson.

Germany's Infineon Technologies AG (IFXGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) moved up the ranks in 2007 to No. 4 in the wireless chip market in 2007 from No. 8 in 2006 as it increased its revenue from the market by 54.3 percent, according to iSuppli.

Privately held NXP, which is merging its wireless chip business with STMicro, saw its market share fall to 4.8 percent in 2007 from 5.6 percent in 2006, dropping to the No. 5 market ranking from No. 3 in 2006. (Reporting by Sinead Carew; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)