Skip to main content

Video iPod Boost All Portable Media Players

Even though Apple's video-capable iPod technically does not fit the definition of a true Portable Media Player (PMP), it has given the product class a boost, reports In-Stat.

Today, consumers are more aware of portable video, additional PMP brands, and ways in which they can download video to handheld devices. In-Stat estimates that the worldwide market for true, video-centric PMPs will grow to 5 million units by the end of 2006, up from a mere 390,000 just two years ago.

"Despite the fact that PMP shipments are finally gaining traction, suppliers and manufacturers continue to face challenges," says Stephanie Ethier, In-Stat analyst. "PMPs will continue to compete with other portable devices offering similar functionality, such as notebook computers, portable DVD players, handheld gaming products, and other mobile devices."

In-Stat's study found the following:

- The video-enabled iPod has spurred a slew of video-capable portable MP3 players from competitors such as SanDisk, Creative, and Samsung. These products are not classified as "true" PMPs, but they have helped establish the market for portable video.

- In a US-based survey of consumers, 75 percent of all respondents (n = 1,099) have some level of familiarity with PMPs.

- Over the next year, In-Stat expects that improvements in video compression technology, download video content sites, and wireless communications will help drive the PMP market.

Popular posts from this blog

How WLAN Transforms Industrial Automation

The industrial sector is on the eve of a wireless transformation, driven by an urgent demand for greater network capacity, reliability, and deterministic performance. Historically, manufacturers and mission-critical operations have relied on wired networks — favoring their predictability — because spectrum congestion in legacy 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands limited confidence in wireless for operational technology (OT) environments. However, with the introduction and rapid adoption of the 6GHz spectrum, compounded by significant advances in Wi-Fi standards, industrial facilities are now poised to embrace wireless LANs as the backbone for automation and digital innovation. Industrial WLAN Market Development Recent research from ABI Research forecasts that over 70 percent of industrial-grade wireless LAN access points (WLAN APs) shipped in 2030 will support the 6GHz band. This is a leap from 2 percent in 2023, highlighting a rapid and profound technological shift. The market for ruggedized indust...