Thing about size of "Mobile Info. Appliance" market. (Hope this has not already been posted several times).
05/04 08:20 Mobile Information Appliance Market to
Surpass Portable PC Market by 2002
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 1999--
Mobile Insights Expands Coverage of Handheld Computers and Wireless Data Communications, Adds Dedicated Industry Analyst
Mobile Insights (MI), the leading information source for the mobile computing and
data communications market, projects that the mobile information appliance
market will surpass worldwide unit shipments of notebook computers within
three years.
Recognizing the growing importance of the emerging handheld computer market,
Mobile Insights is expanding its focus to address the needs of this market
segment by adding a dedicated industry analyst.
The phenomenal growth of the market has been fueled primarily by the success
of Palm Computing's connected organizer. More than three million Palm devices
have been sold since their introduction. The market expanded further with the
introduction of Microsoft's Windows CE operating system and continued growth is
expected.
"The mobile information appliance market will enjoy exponential growth over the
next few years, with annual worldwide sales exceeding 25 million units by the end
of 2002," said David Hayden, Mobile Insights' new senior industry analyst
focusing on mobile information appliances.
"Wireless communications will be the catalyst fueling the growth of this new
mobile market, and as the 'killer application,' will lead to pervasive use of
handheld computers."
Mobile Information Appliances Market to Grow
While Windows CE has not been successful in capturing a significant market
share in the mobile information appliance market to date, Microsoft has managed
to attract major OEMs such as Hewlett-Packard, Compaq, Casio, and many
others.
Ultimately, Microsoft's ability to improve its software offerings and the ability of the
OEMs to invest in R&D will lead to market leadership in the mobile information
appliance market. However, Palm Computing will continue to enjoy the success
and market leadership of the Palm platform as the new millennium approaches.
MI expects Palm to continue to develop its platform to keep pace with technology.
In addition to handheld PCs and palm-size PCs, explosive growth will also occur
in a relatively new category of mobile information appliances -- SmartPhones.
Initially, Symbian (a Psion spin-off) will play a pivotal role in legitimizing this
sub-segment of the mobile information appliance market through its partnerships
with Motorola, Ericsson and Nokia. Symbian has estimated that it will sell ten
million SmartPhones within the next few years.
The first Symbian-based phones, such as the just-announced Ericsson R380
SmartPhone, will begin to appear in the market early next year, with 2001
representing the most significant growth year for the category.
Microsoft is still a wild card in the SmartPhone segment. Its initial foray into the
SmartPhone market has been a service play with the creation of
WirelessKnowledge, a joint venture between Microsoft and Qualcomm. Microsoft
is expected to add a SmartPhone platform for Windows CE in the near future, but
many issues will need to be addressed before this strategy can become a reality.
Mobile Insights defines mobile information appliances as all handheld systems
that incorporate a computer system and some form of data communications. This
category includes connected organizers like the Palm systems, palm-size PCs
running Windows CE, SmartPhones that integrate voice and data running the
Symbian or Geos OS, and two-way wireless devices such as the Motorola
PageWriter 2000. Not included are standard voice-only cell phones and
receive-only pagers.
Mobile Insights Expands Focus
In recognition of the explosive growth within the handheld computer market,
Mobile Insights has hired a dedicated industry analyst, David Hayden, who will
drive Mobile Insights' initiatives in this emerging market segment.
Hayden is a 12-year veteran of the mobile information appliance market and a
recognized authority on handheld computers and wireless communications. He
is the author of Teach Yourself Windows CE in 24 Hours published by SAMS
Publishing, a division of Macmillan, as well as numerous articles covering
handheld computers and wireless communications. Hayden comes to Mobile
Insights from Phoenix Technologies, Ltd., where he was marketing manager for
mobile information appliances.
David Hayden joins a team headed up by Gerry Purdy, Ph.D., the recognized
authority on mobile computing. Dr. Purdy, who founded Mobile Insights in 1994
and was formerly chief analyst for mobile computing at Dataquest, will continue to
focus on the mobile computing and data communications market. Theresa
Nozick, who joined the MI staff as industry analyst in May 1998, will continue her
focus on the notebook market, and is also the editorial director for the company.
Coverage of the mobile information appliance market will increase in the
MobileTrax online subscription service as well as in the free Mobile Letter
newsletter. Next year, Mobile Insights' sixth annual conference will split into
tracks, giving dedicated conference time to notebooks, handhelds and data
communications.
In addition, MI will sponsor its first "Go Mobile" conference Sept. 21-23 this year,
which will be dedicated to an audience of Information Technology (IT)
decision-makers and cover the IT issues surrounding mobile computing
technology. Next week, Mobile Insights will launch Mobile Perspectives in Taipei,
Taiwan, to address key mobile issues for the Asian market.
About Mobile Insights
Mobile Insights is the world's leading authority on mobile computing and data
communications. Established in September 1994, the company provides
professional services to vendors of hardware, software and services in the
mobile computing and data communications industry.
In addition to market analysis, consulting and publishing, Mobile Insights' service
brands include: Mobile Letter, an electronic newsletter that provides reviews of
new products and offers industry insights; MobileTrax Online, a syndicated
continuous Internet information subscription service publishing 50+ reports
annually; the Mobility Awards, awards given annually to top products and services
in 27 categories; Go Mobile, a new conference for leading Information Technology
decision makers; and the flagship Mobile Insights conference, an annual
conference that brings together 400 to 500 of the mobile industry's key vendor
executives.
COPYRIGHT © 1999 REUTERS LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. |
