This IDC study provides our assessment of the market for portable audio-focused hardware with compressed codec support. The study incorporates current data and 2008-2012 forecasts for MP3 player and portable media player (PMP) unit shipments and value sales.

"Besides the overly high price, the absence of legitimate content is another restriction of PMP market development, while free online content services will be inhibited by uncertainty over content protection and piracy", says Bryan Yuan, Senior analyst, Vertical Industry Research and Consulting Team, IDC China. "The availability of legitimate digital entertainment content will increase the demand for downloads, which will stimulate growth in the portable video player market".