The global market will see an installed base of over 2.6 billion Wi-Fi enabled consumer devices by 2014, according to a report just published by the Strategy Analytics (http://www.strategyanalytics.com) research group. The report, “Embedded WLAN (Wi-Fi) CE Devices: Global Market Forecast,” predicts the retail value of the market will exceed $250 billion in the same year.
“Consumer demand for the ‘everywhere web’ will drive Wi-Fi adoption in mobile Internet devices,” according to Peter King, Director of the Connected Home Device service at Strategy Analytics. “Even where 3G or 4G technologies are available, Wi-Fi will still be a preferred access route for many, as hot-spots and home networks proliferate.”
The embedded Wi-Fi device market — until now dominated by computing and gaming — will become much more evenly spread by 2014, according to the report.
“While today the market is dominated by portable products, Wi-Fi Networked TV and Blu-ray players will become significant products in the family room by 2014,” says King.
