Wi-Fi-enabled consumer electronics devices jump 6 fold by 2011
The
total number of Wi-Fi-enabled consumer electronics devices will grow from
just 40 million shipped in 2006 to nearly 249
million in 2011, according to a new study
from ABI Research. Wi-Fi networking is expected to become a key
enabler for delivery and redistribution of content in the home,
particularly for retail consumer electronics hardware. ABI Research
believes that as the market evolves towards digital distribution, the
growth will be fueled by the inclusion of embedded Wi-Fi in consumer
electronics.
The market today is led by portable
gaming consoles. Nintendo and Sony have equipped their latest generation
devices with Wi-Fi for multiplayer and online gaming. The new Zune from
Microsoft signals the beginning of a large scale movement towards embedded
Wi-Fi in portable media players. Camera vendors such as Nikon, Kodak and
Canon have all embraced Wi-Fi in their products. Line-powered devices such
as gaming consoles, DVD players and audio receivers are all expected to
see high attach rates for Wi-Fi during the forecast period.
