ABI: Wi-Fi RTLS, Software Service Professionals to Experience Added Revenue, Expansion
February 20, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
Wi-Fi real-time location systems (RTLS) require dense deployments of supplementary access points to accurately triangulate and then locate assets and people.
According to ABI Research, it is no surprise that most equipment vendors fail to publicize the inadequate number of access points presently employed.
Going forward, however, analysts said there will be a dramatic increase in the number of access points deployed, thereby enhancing Wi-Fi RTLS and emphasizing its advantages over proprietary RTLS.
"Revenue generated by access point sales will rise from $14 million in 2006 to more than $191 million in 2012," said ABI Research vice president and research director Stan Schatt.
"And the savings created from using Wi-Fi RTLS for fixed mobile convergence [FMC] should cost-justify these purchases." By that time, Europe will overtake North America, producing higher Wi-Fi RTLS revenues.
Paralleling this increase in access point deployments, revenues earned by software service professionals will experience substantial growth as well - from just over $2 million in 2006 to more than $60 million in 2012.
Analysts said demand for professional services will expand as software becomes more customized and specific needs must be met.
"ABI Research forecasts illustrate that the rapidly growing installed base of access points is essential when it comes to the expansion of Wi-Fi RTLS," said Schatt. "Moreover, the biggest advantage of Wi-Fi RTLS over proprietary RTLS is that the presence of access points eliminates the need for a separate cabling system and expensive RFID [radio frequency identification] readers."
Source: ABI Research.