ABI: Cellular PC Modems Research Service to Increase Coverage
July 15, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
ABI Research launched the Cellular PC Modems Research Service to help its clients identify the next growth opportunity for cellular modems and understand the market conditions that will create this opportunity.
The service covers the competitive dynamics of the entire value chain including chipset suppliers, independent software vendors, device original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), cellular modem providers, operators, value-added resellers (VARs) and system integrators.
Analysts said in 2007, cellular modem shipments increased by more than 300% over 2006.
Not only was the dramatic increase remarkable, but, universal serial bus (USB) modems accounted for more than half of the shipments.
Growth drivers included continued expansion of third generation (3G) cellular networks and the popularity of USB modems among retail sales staff.
Probably the most significant drivers, analysts said, were the expansion of offers for mobile broadband access and the simultaneous reductions in price on the part of European operators. Europe accounted for a high percentage of the cellular modem shipments in 2007.
"European mobile operators' aggressive mobile broadband pricing was striking," said ABI Research principal analyst Dan Shey. "It released the pent-up demand for wireless broadband services and showed the possibilities for growth in other world regions."
Benefits to subscribers of the ABI Research service include an understanding of the forces driving adoption of cellular modems based on competitive environment changes. Analysts said among these are mobile broadband pricing practices, OEM and operator strategies, 3G+ (also known as high speed downlink packet access - HSDPA) network growth and the influence of distribution channels.
Demand-side analysis includes assessment of business vertical and occupational uptake, as well as analysis of the factors driving consumer adoption. According to ABI Research, all analysis is supported by market data that provides a highly segmented view of cellular modems and mobile broadband services at the regional level.
Source: ABI Research.