Jan 26, 2009 09:54 ET
35 Million Netbook Shipments Expected in 2009: An Era Begins, Says ABI Research
NEW YORK --(Business Wire)-- Jan 26, 2009
The time is right for the netbook. According to analysts at ABI
Research, a confluence of social and technological factors has created a
kind of “perfect storm” that will lead to a market explosion for
netbooks over the next few years. The firm forecasts worldwide shipments
of nearly 35 million this year, rising to an estimated 139 million in
2013.
Practice director Kevin Burden describes this evolution: “PDA’s began
our reliance on instant accessible data while traveling. When PDA
functionality converged with cellular voice, smartphones became the new
darling of mobile professional technology that many expected to evolve
into the hub for all data and communication needs for travelling
professionals. Today, with a better understanding for what a smartphone
is, is not, and may never be, along with a reality check on the
usefulness of UMPCs, the market remains open for new device types.”
Smartphones did a lot to raise our comfort level with mobile technology
as well our expectations for how connected we could be and how
accessible information and data should be while on the road. Enter the
netbook with its light-weight, medium-sized form factor and low-cost
processors leading to moderate overall price points may finally have
“right-sized” mobile technology for productive travels.
While the advent of low-cost, power stingy x86 and ARM processors were
the technical keys to netbooks, Burden argues that industry and consumer
expectations also needed to evolve before netbooks would meet market
acceptance. “In recent years, the industry still expected the
smartphones to be more than they turned out to be, and most recently,
MIDs were thought to be the next big mobile devices segment, but an
unclear usage model continues to confuse the market. So today, netbooks’
time has come, and ABI research expects them to enjoy very strong market
growth.”
ABI Research’s “Mobile
Devices Annual Market Overview”
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/market_research/Mobile_Devices_Annual_Market_Overview)
delivers an integrated view of the mobile devices market and examines
the unique market aspects of individual device form factors, including
mobile handsets, ultra mobile devices, broadband-enabled consumer
electronics and cellular modems. It includes detailed shipment and
revenue forecasts, and is a component of the firm’s Mobile
Devices Research Service
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Mobile_Devices_Research_Service).
ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of
emerging trends in global connectivity. From offices in North America,
Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advise
thousands of decision makers through research and advisory services in
seven key practice areas. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com,
or call +1.516.624.2500.
Christine Gallen, +1-516-624-2542
pr@abiresearch.com