Over
the next few years, the ubiquity of wireless LAN technology and the
worldwide rollout of GPRS and CDMA2000 cellular networks
will rapidly drive the demand for semiconductors supporting
wireless access in portable devices, according to In- Stat/MDR.
The
high-tech market research firmreports
that the market for these components
will grow rapidly in both notebook computers and in PDAs and by 2006,
the number of wireless modem chipsets for notebooks is forecast to exceed
33 million while the number for PDAs
is forecast to exceed 6 million.
"Wireless
LANs have not only been a widespread success in
many business' and in the home, but public "hot spots"
deployments in hotels, airports, and coffee shops have
fueled great interest in using the technology as a wide-area
solution as well," says Allen Nogee, a Senior Analyst with
In-Stat/MDR. "At the same time, cellular providers have
started to deploy their wide-area mid-speed cellular
wireless data networks which offer a wider coverage area but
at a lower data-rate."
In-Stat/MDR
has also found that:
-
The number of wireless modem chipsets going into
external PC Cards will peak in 2004. After that year,
the number of chipsets for these applications will
taper-off, as more and more devices will be built with
embedded modems, especially notebook PCs with embedded
wireless LAN access.
-
By 2006, the embedded miniPCI form factor will be the
most popular for wireless LAN chipsets. For cellular
wireless modem chipsets, the most popular form factor
will be PCMCIA.
-
In PDAs, by 2006, embedded wireless modem modules will
account for most of the wireless LAN and cellular
modem chipsets for those devices. Chipsets for
external cards for PDAs, (PCMCIA, SD, etc) will only
account for less than 10% of the total for that year.
-
The number of wireless LAN chipsets for portable
devices (PDAs and notebook computers) will far exceed
those chipsets used for cellular wireless data access
in those devices. By 2006, over 8 million chipsets
will be used for cellular access, while over 30
million will be used for wireless LAN access.
The
report, "Wireless Modem Semiconductors For Notebooks &
PDAs - A Wireless Future That Looks Bright",
covers the issues and technologies that chipmakers need to
explore to understand this market and the demand for
components for it. While this report does not list the
actual chipsets or the companies that manufacture them in
detail, it does provide forecasts for these chipsets,
including both short-range wireless LAN technology, as well
as wide-area cellular data technology. Breakouts are
included by type of device, embedded vs. external PC Card,
and type of technology (WLAN vs. cellular). Forecasts are
included for both chipset units and chipset revenue for the
years 2001 to 2006.
In-Stat/MDR
offers a broad range of
information resources and analytical assets to technology
vendors, service providers, technology professionals, and
market specialists worldwide. The company stands alone in
its ability to integrate both supply-side and demand-side
research methodologies into a single comprehensive view of
technology markets and products. This capability relies on a
unique ability to cover the entire value chain from
engineering-level technology, through equipment,
infrastructure, services and end-users.
In-Stat/MDR
is part of the Reed Electronics Group, a world-
leading publisher and information provider. With over
38,000 employees worldwide, Reed Elsevier operates in the
science & medical, legal, education and business-to-business
industry sectors, providing high value and flexible
information solutions to professional end users, with
increasing emphasis on the Internet.
