Half of the company's 2011 MEMS revenues came from sales to Apple. In Apple's iPad and iPhone, the MEMS gyroscopes come from one supplier: STMicroelectronics. The one included in the iPhone 4 is a chip made by STMicroelectronics labeled AGD1 2022 FP6AQ, for measurement in three axes (X, Y and Z). Emerging applications for gyroscopes in smartphones also include optical image stabilization and navigation-related functions." The MEMS gyroscope is a microscopic vibrating structure gyroscope integrated on a chip. While accelerometers are responsible for correctly orienting phones and tablets to the viewer's perspective whether the devices are held vertically or horizontally, gyroscopes improve the motion-based interface, especially for gaming. Toggled off by default, this new setting must be turned on in order for websites to display features that rely on motion data from the gyroscope and accelerometer in the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. "The rise of gyroscopes to the top was in large part due to the boom in 3-axis versions of the device, used mostly in tandem with 3-axis accelerometers for more accurate motion sensing. IHS iSuppli explains the popularity of MEMS gyroscopes in today's mobile electronic devices: MEMS gyroscopes accounted for US$665.4 million in revenues in 2011, compared with only $394.5 million in 2010 - a 66% rise in revenues in just one year. According to Wikipedia's definition, 'A gyroscope is a device for measuring or maintaining orientation, based on the principles of conservation of angular momentum.'The key phrase is measuring or maintaining orientation, which is the exact reason an iPhone 4 contains one of these gizmos. (Photo above is of an iPhone 4 MEMS gyro - not this kind of gyro - component.) IHS iSuppli is reporting that sales of MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) gyroscopes have skyrocketed as well thanks to use of the devices in Apple's mobile line. Apple isn't the only company reaping the benefits of increased sales of the iPhone and iPad.