14 DAY TRIAL // The market of mobile devices is expected to experience an impressive growth over the following few years. During the ongoing year, ABI Research expects for a number of 1.2 billion mobile devices to be shipped, while the number is said to almost double by 2014, reaching a total of 2.25 billion. However, it should be noted that the research firm includes in its forecast the sales of cellular handsets, MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices), netbooks, mobile consumer electronics products, and cellular modems.
“The next five years will see a shift in the breakdown between types of mobile devices shipped,” comments industry analyst Michael Morgan. “Today, wireless handsets rule the roost, with other mobile devices accounting for only 40 million shipments and cellular modems only 60 million. While handset shipments did actually decrease between 2008 and 2009 due to the global recession, the other two segments in fact grew very aggressively.”
According to ABI Research, smartphones are to see increasing competition on the market from the latest developments in the ultra mobile devices area. Moreover, the research firm also says that we might soon see the convergence period for cellular communications to end, and that the industry will soon enter a divergence period. The firm also notes that the technology is already in place for a series of devices, and that only the business and billing models need to be developed from now on.
“Handset sales are growing at only 4%, while cellular modem shipments are expected to grow by 40% annually, and ultra mobile devices by 67%. These newer categories represent very attractive market opportunities and new revenue streams for operators,” Morgan also noted. This is not the first time when carriers are said to plan enriching the devices offering for their customers, some of you might already know.
ABI Research says that this shift in focus might lead some handset vendors into delivering more phones that are placed in the low cost and ultra-low cost segments, and also notes that MIDs and netbooks will need to better show what their purpose is. “The same will apply to cellular modems, and operator subsidies will also have an important influence on the sale of these devices,” the research firm concludes.