Wi-Fi wireless connectivity has taken the entertainment device market by storm, with cameras, gaming devices (handheld and consoles), and various personal media players (PMPs) incorporating the technology to date.
Wi-Fi-enabled entertainment device shipments will increase from 108.8 million in 2009 to 177.3 million in 2013, according the latest market study by In-Stat.
"While a growing number of entertainment devices have Wi-Fi embedded, most product categories only have a few players -- often with a single company dominating the market," says Victoria Fodale, In-Stat analyst.
For gaming consoles and gaming devices, Nintendo dominates the market, selling 79 percent of Wi-Fi-enabled consoles and 87 percent of Wi-Fi-enabled handheld devices in 2009.
In-Stat's market study found the following:
- Although the Apple iPod Touch clearly has the dominant Wi-Fi-enabled PMP market share, many vendors now have offerings in the space.
- Nikon shipped 91 percent of Wi-Fi-enabled digital cameras in H1 2009.
- For the past several years all gaming consoles have had Wi-Fi embedded, which is a trend that will continue throughout the forecast period.
- The most significant variance in handhelds will be the type of Wi-Fi embedded.
- Beginning in 2010, these devices will begin shipping with 802.11n, while previously all devices were being shipped with the 802.11b standard.
