If you're looking for a powerful market, check out dc-dc converters. According to a study by Venture Development Corp., the global merchant market for dc-dc devices tallied $5.5 billion in 2004. On top of that, the field is going to hit $7.8 billion by 2008. VDC cites three factors contributing to this growth. First, the proliferation of lower voltages at higher current levels has fueled an increased use of distributed power architectures with point-of-load converters across more applications. Second, the semiconductor industry had a substantial recovery in 2004 and expects steady growth of its own. Finally, OEMs are building systems that require more current, lower voltages, and additional voltages, driving more expensive feature sets. For more information about the study, go to www.vdc-corp.com.