The 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is held in Las Vegas this week. The annual trade show event features more than 2,700 consumer technology exhibitors in 30 product categories. Given the current state of the global networked economy, the show will likely have lower attendance.
Consumers are growing more sophisticated in their purchasing habits for electronics and services, even as they rein in their total spending, according to the latest market study by Parks Associates.
"By 2013, there will be over 140 million U.S. consumers paying for mobile broadband, which will extend video, communication, networking, and support services to all sorts of devices," said Kurt Scherf, vice president, principal analyst, Parks Associates.
Parks Associates forecasts 4.5 billion mobile phone users worldwide by 2013, with many people using these devices as gateways for entertainment services, community information, and social networking.
The increasing importance of the mobile phone will affect other product and service sectors. For example, over 100 million femtocells will be shipped worldwide in 2013, cumulatively serving over 300 million subscribers.
The CONNECTIONS Summit at CES this week features ten sessions, including Wireless Networking; Advanced Video Services; Customer Support; Social Media; The Changing CE Purchase Decision; GPS Technologies; Connected Consumer Electronics; Digital Photo Frames; Connected Game Consoles; TV 2.0; and Home Systems.
Unfortunately, I'm unable to attend CES events this year, but will report any noteworthy major market research related announcements from the show.