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April 2003 - The year 2002 was a great year for
wireless LAN component manufacturers, with sales
of wireless LAN chipsets growing strongly over the
previous year, despite a very slow world economy
and a slow semiconductor market in general. High-tech
market research firm, In-Stat/MDR (http://www.instat.com),
reports that most of these sales were driven by
the huge popularity of 802.11b (Wi-Fi). However,
802.11g products have started to arrive with great
customer acceptance and 802.11a and combo chips
will also play importantly into the mix. |
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2002
could best be described as a transitional year for wireless
LAN; for both chipmakers, and the standard overall.
It was the year that wireless LAN made the transition
from niche application to mainstream technology and
one in which chipmakers refined their strategies, and
formed alliances and partnerships in preparation for
the long-haul. In addition, it was a year in which direct-conversion
architectures, using RF CMOS, gained legitimacy, and
a year where Bi-CMOS and superheterodyne designs had
their supporters as well.
In-Stat/MDR
has also found that:
- Despite
terrorism concerns, a very slow worldwide economy,
and a horrible time for semiconductor manufacturers
in general, wireless LAN chipsets sold grew to more
than twice the level of the previous year, to over
20 million. In 2003, the amount of growth in wireless
LAN doesn't show any signs of slowing down.
- With
wireless LAN chip prices still dropping rapidly, and
the number of uses for these chips increasing just
about every day, there is no question that the growth
of Wireless LAN will continue. In 2003, the number
of chipsets forecast to be sold will reach over 33
million, and by 2007, the number of wireless LAN chipsets
is forecast to be over 94 million.
- Fueling
growth is one giant application with a second, potentially
giant, application waiting in the wings. The current
giant application is the laptop, perhaps the original
wireless LAN application that started it all. Both
Intel and Microsoft want to see wireless LAN included
in all new laptops sold, and all indications are that
soon it will be. In-Stat/MDR is forecasting that by
the end of next year, over 70% of new laptops purchased
will come with some type of integrated wireless LAN
support. The second, potentially giant, wireless LAN
application is wireless LAN embedded in a cellular
handset and used for Voice-over-IP (VoIP). While this
application is still in its infancy, the potential
for hundreds of millions of wireless LAN chips is
certainly present.
This
Market Alert is drawn from the In-Stat/MDR report, "The
Wireless Road Ahead - The Wireless LAN Chip Market Today
and Beyond", which covers wireless LAN technology
from both a standards and component point-of-view, and
explores the many changes occurring in the industry.
In addition, the report takes a look at the companies
making WLAN chips and the products they are developing.
The report contains chipset forecasts through 2007;
including chipsets by standard and WLAN chipset revenue
by standard. Breakouts are included for the home and
enterprise, and include subtotals by type of end-product
device, along with forecasts for WLAN chips in laptops
and cellular handsets. In addition, the report includes
company profiles of 24 wireless LAN component manufacturers,
including their current products and an analysis of
their place in the market.
SOURCE
Instat Press Release Back
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