Imagination Tech slumps on smartphone slowdown

LONDON, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Imagination Technologies said slowdown at the top end of the smartphone market would hitthe number of chips shipped using its graphics and videotechnology in the second half of the year, sending its sharesdown 15 percent.

Its lower guidance pushed its shares to more than three-yearlow of 207 pence by 0821 GMT.

The British company said it expected its partners, whichinclude Apple, to ship 580-630 million units, excludingthe MIPS technology it bought last year, down from its previousforecast of about 650 million.

The downgrade came as the company reported a fall inadjusted pretax profit to 13.2 million pounds ($21.7 million)for the first half, from 16.8 million pounds, hurt in part byincreasing losses at its Pure digital radio business.

Revenue, up 19 percent to 85.2 million pounds, also fellabout 9 percent short of analysts' forecasts of 93.3 millionpounds.