Wireless Industry Continues Rapid Worldwide Growth, 7-16-2007
Mobile communications, including mobile entertainment, remains one of the hottest sectors in the InfoTech market. More than 900 million cell phones will sell worldwide during 2007 and again in 2008-making the cellular phone the fastest-selling single item of consumer electronics by far. Worldwide, cell phone use continues extremely rapid growth, particularly in China and India. In some nations, particularly in Scandinavia, market penetration exceeds 100% of the population as some people have more than one cell phone subscription. Accessing and transferring data and entertainment via cell phone is growing at a rapid clip. With all this rapid growth and development going on, keeping up with the trends affecting the industry can be challenging. According to a recent report by Plunkett Research, Ltd., some of the most exciting of these trends include:
- Municipal Wi-Fi Broadband Systems Make Whole Cities Wireless.
Because of their relatively low cost and ease of installation, many cities and communities throughout the U.S. have installed (or are making plans to install) municipal Wi-Fi systems with the intent of making Internet access available to all citizens at all times.
- WiMAX Extends Wireless Range Far Beyond Wi-Fi.
A newer standard known as Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, or WiMAX (802.16), is adding considerable fuel to the wireless fire. WiMAX has the capability to deliver extremely fast Internet connections to wireless devices, such as notebooks and mobile VoIP telephones, with each WiMAX antenna having about a 30-mile maximum broadcast range.
- Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) Ready to Spread/Nanotechnology Applications.
A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) consists of a grouping of remote sensors (which may include RFID-equipped sensors) that transmit data wirelessly to a receiver that is collecting information into a database. Special controls may alert the network's manager to changes in the environment, traffic or hazardous conditions within the vicinity of the sensors. Long-term collection of data from remote sensors can be used to establish patterns and make predictions, as well as to manage surveillance in real time.
To find out more about these exciting trends and more, check out Plunkett's Wireless, Wi-Fi & RFID Industry Almanac 2008, just released, or go to www.plunkettresearch.com and sign up for a subscription to Plunkett's completely up-to-date online database!
About Plunkett Research, Ltd.
Plunkett Research, Ltd. is a leading publisher of complete business research and analysis resources, designed to enable professionals in marketing, research and finance to access complete trends analysis, statistics, technology analysis and financial analysis of the world's most exciting industries. For more information, visit www.plunkettresearch.com, or call 713.932.0000.