Nokia is emerging as a "hidden power behind the throne" in the global semiconductor market, an industry expert reported today.

Analyst firm iSuppli said that Nokia's design influence had spread throughout the global electronics and semiconductor markets.

"The design of electronic goods leads directly to equipment production, which in turn drives semiconductor purchasing," said Min-Sun Moon, an iSuppli analyst covering OEM semiconductor spending and design.

"Companies like Nokia that design electronic equipment, such as mobile handsets, also are responsible for specifying the use of particular chips in the products being developed.

"Thus, these companies have a major influence on global semiconductor spending patterns."

The analyst added that Nokia's "impressive growth" not only affects electronics supply but the economies of entire nations, such as Taiwan and China, owing to the firm's R&D centres in many different countries around the world.

"Taiwan is expanding its wireless business and attracting increasing involvement from manufacturers that design more and more mobile handsets," said Moon.

"This is changing the entire landscape of wireless design-influenced spending, and allowing Taiwan to obtain greater influence."