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Multimedia Tablets Create New Opportunities for ISPs

Today's active user of mobile computing devices is in search of constant connectivity -- in order to access the Internet, engage in social networking, and share multimedia content with friends, family or business associates.

The quest for a consistent high-quality on-the-go "connected life" experience is a source of new market development activity for consumer electronics (CE) product manufacturers and their internet service provider (ISP) channel partners.

In-Stat's latest market study suggests that this trend represents an opportunity for traditional mobile phone operators to move beyond the maturing handset market and into the emerging wireless device markets, such as e-readers and tablets.

By 2015 for example, multimedia tablets will have the highest 3G or 4G attach rate among all cellular-enabled portable and computing devices -- with 78 percent of tablets shipping with a 3G/4G modem, according to In-Stat's assessment.

"The emerging tablet market represents one of the strongest opportunities for embedded 3G/4G technology," says Stephanie Ethier, Senior Analyst at In-Stat.

Cellular connectivity will also continue to find its way into e-readers, as well. By 2015, it's forecast that 65 percent of e-readers worldwide will ship with an embedded 3G/4G modem.

In-Stat’s latest research covers the market for non-traditional cellular-connected devices, and includes forecasts for tablets, e-readers, portable navigation devices (PNDs), and digital photo frames.

Additional findings from the In-Stat market study include:

- Approximately 16 million portable and computing devices shipped with 3G/4G cellular connectivity in 2010.

- Over 50 percent of all 3G/4G tablets in 2015 will have LTE WAN connectivity.

- By 2015, 52 percent of cellular-connected portable and computing devices in Asia will be GSM devices.

- The Asia-Pacific region will experience the highest sustainable growth rate among 3G/4G portable and computing devices throughout the forecast period.

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