In-Depth Analysis: Consumer Electronics Devices Warming Up to Wi-Fi

• In-Stat expects that handheld games and gaming consoles will continue to be leading Wi-Fi-enabled CE device categories across the forecast period.
• CE device categories that will show marked growth in Wi-Fi attach rates by 2010 will include portable digital music players, Set-Top Boxes, Digital TVs, and Portable Media Players (PMPs).
• Wi-Fi's adoption into high-volume CE categories opens the door for even single-digit Wi-Fi attach rates to translate into millions of Wi-Fi shipments. Even with sub-10% Wi-Fi attach rates expected for STBs and DTVs in 2010, Wi-Fi-enabled shipments within each of these device categories are still expected to number in the millions.
• Although Wi-Fi already sits alongside many complementary technologies such as wired Ethernet, Bluetooth, and USB in many device categories, Wireless USB promises to be a serious competitor in the digital video camcorder, digital still camera, printer, and MFP device segments.
• Innovative start-ups such as MusicGremlin, Slim Devices, and Sonos currently sell Wi-Fi-enabled CE devices, alongside CE giants including Philips, Samsung, Sharp, and Sony, and networking vendors like D-Link and Linksys. However, it may take crossover networking-digital home specialists like Apple and Microsoft to really ignite Wi-Fi's acceptance in the broad market.

Executive Summary

Table of Contents

Introduction

Wi-Fi Technologies Overview

Wi-Fi Standards History

802.11n

Optional Features

Competitive Technologies

Wireless USB (WUSB)

High Data Rate Bluetooth

WiNet

3G

WiMAX

Setting the Stage for Wi-Fi in CE Devices

Wi-Fi-enabled Home Networks

Wi-Fi Networking Devices in the Home

Home Wi-Fi Aggregators

Laptops with Embedded Wi-Fi

External Clients

Wi-Fi Phones

Wi-Fi-only Consumer Phones

Sony's Mylo

Dual-mode Cellular/Wi-Fi Phones

WLAN Stationary CE Device Forecasts by Market Segment

Digital TVs (DTVs)

Set-Top Boxes (STBs)

Standalone PVRs

DVD Players

DVD Recorders

Blu-ray DVD Players & Recorders

Gaming Consoles

Printers

Multi-Function Peripherals (MFPs)

Wi-Fi Media Adapters and Players

Wi-Fi Gaming Adapters

Wi-Fi Print Servers/Adapters

Wi-Fi in Portable CE Devices

Handheld Games

Digital Cameras

Portable Digital Music Players

Portable Media Players (PMPs)

Digital Video Camcorders

PDAs

Methodology

Related In-Stat Reports

Offices

List of Tables

Table 1. Wi-Fi Technologies Comparison

Table 2. Comparison Chart: Wi-Fi vs. 3G and WiMAX

Table 3. Home WLAN Routers, Gateways and Standalone APs

Table 4. Mobile PCs with Embedded WLAN

Table 5. WLAN External Clients

Table 6. Wi-Fi-Only Consumer Phones

Table 7. Consumer Dual-Mode Cellular/Wi-Fi Phones

Table 8. Wi-Fi in Stationary CE Device Segments

Table 9. Digital TVs with Wi-Fi

Table 10. STBs with Wi-Fi

Table 11. Standalone PVRs with Wi-Fi

Table 12. DVD Players with Wi-Fi

Table 13. DVD Recorders with Wi-Fi

Table 14. Blu-ray DVD Players & Recorders with Wi-Fi

Table 15. Gaming Consoles with Embedded Wi-Fi

Table 16. Printers with Embedded Wi-Fi

Table 17. MFPs with Embedded Wi-Fi

Table 18. Wi-Fi Media Adapter Forecast

Table 19. Wi-Fi Gaming Adapters Forecast

Table 20. Wi-Fi Print Servers/Adapters Forecast

Table 21. Portable CE Device Segments with Wi-Fi

Table 22. Handheld Games with Embedded Wi-Fi

Table 23. Digital Cameras with Wi-Fi

Table 24. Portable Digital Music Players with Embedded Wi-Fi

Table 25. PMPs with Wi-Fi

Table 26. Digital Video Camcorders with Embedded Wi-Fi

Table 27. PDAs with Wi-Fi

List of Figures

Figure 1. Topline Wi-Fi Uptake in CE Device Segments

Figure 2. Home WLAN Aggregator Forecast by Segment

Figure 3. UTStarcom F1000 Wi-Fi-Only Consumer Handset

Figure 4. Belkin's Skype Wi-Fi Phone

Figure 5. Sony's Mylo Personal Communicator Device

Figure 6. UTStarcom's PPC6700 "GeniusPhone"

Figure 7. Nokia 6136 Dual-Mode Cellular/Wi-Fi Handset

Figure 8. Wi-Fi-Enabled Stationary CE Devices

Figure 9. Digital TVs: Wi-Fi Uptake over Forecast Period

Figure 10. Wi-Fi in DTVs: Wi-Fi Technology Breakdown

Figure 11. Sony's LocationFree LF-X11 12" LCD TV

Figure 12. Sony's LF-B20 LocationFree Base Station with 802.11a/g

Figure 13. Sharp Aquos LC-15L1U-S 15-inch Wireless LCD TV

Figure 14. STBs: Wi-Fi Uptake over Forecast Period

Figure 15. Wi-Fi in STBs: Wi-Fi Technology Breakdown

Figure 16. Free's 2-Box HD Freebox Solution: Network Box (ADSL Freebox) + Multimedia Box (Freebox HD) Figure 17. Sharp's Galileo PVR

Figure 18. Tivo's Wireless USB Network Adapter

Figure 19. Standalone PVRs: Wi-Fi Uptake over Forecast Period

Figure 20. Wi-Fi in Standalone PVRs: Wi-Fi Technology Breakdown

Figure 21. KiSS' DP-600 High Definition Media Player

Figure 22. Zensonic Z500 High Definition Networked DVD Player

Figure 23. Buffalo LinkTheater Wireless Media Player

Figure 24. D-Link's MediaLounge Wireless Media Player with DVD Player and Card Reader

Figure 25. DVD Players: Wi-Fi Uptake over Forecast Period

Figure 26. Wi-Fi in DVD Players: Wi-Fi Technology Breakdown

Figure 27. LG Electronic's Digital Media Recorder LRM-519

Figure 28. DVD Recorders: Wi-Fi Uptake over Forecast Period

Figure 29. Blu-ray DVD Players & Recorders: Wi-Fi Uptake over Forecast Period

Figure 30. Wi-Fi in Blu-ray DVD Players & Recorders: Wi-Fi Technology Breakdown

Figure 31. Gaming Consoles: Embedded Wi-Fi Uptake over Forecast Period

Figure 32. HP's Wi-Fi-enabled Deskjet 6980dt Color Inkjet Printer

Figure 33. Printers with Embedded Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi Uptake in Printers over Forecast Period

Figure 34. Wi-Fi in Printers: Wi-Fi Technology Breakdown

Figure 35. Brother's MFC820cw Color Inkjet Wireless Network-Ready Multi-Function Center with Embedded Wi-Fi

Figure 36. MFPs with Embedded Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi Uptake over Forecast Period

Figure 37. Wi-Fi in MFPs: Wi-Fi Technology Breakdown

Figure 38. Ruckus Wireless MediaFlex Adapter

Figure 39. Philips' Streamium Wireless Media Adapter

Figure 40. D-Link's DSM-520 Wireless HD Media Player

Figure 41. Hauppauge's Wireless MediaMVP

Figure 42. Sonos' Wi-Fi-enabled Digital Music System—System Components Include the Controller, ZonePlayer 100 (ZP100), and ZonePlayer 80 (ZP80)

Figure 43. Slim Devices' Squeezebox

Figure 44. Slim Devices' Transporter

Figure 45. Roku's Wi-Fi SoundBridge Radio Wi-Fi Music System

Figure 46. Roku's SoundBridge M1000 Network Music Player with Wi-Fi

Figure 47. Linksys' Wireless G Music Bridge

Figure 48. D-Link's DGL-3420 Wireless 108AG Gaming Adapter

Figure 49. Microsoft's XBox360 Gaming Adapter

Figure 50. Linksys Wireless-G Print Server

Figure 51. Portable CE Devices with Wi-Fi: Breakdown by Market Segment

Figure 52. Nintendo DS Lite

Figure 53. Sony Playstation Portable (PSP)

Figure 54. Handheld Games with Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi Uptake over Forecast Period

Figure 55. Wi-Fi in Handheld Games: Wi-Fi Technology Breakdown

Figure 56. Canon PowerShot SD430

Figure 57. Kodak EasyShare One

Figure 58. Nikon Coolpix P3

Figure 59. Nikon Coolpix SD6

Figure 60. Digital Cameras with Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi Uptake over Forecast Period

Figure 61. Wi-Fi in Digital Cameras: Wi-Fi Technology Breakdown

Figure 62. Sirius' SL100-PK1 Stiletto 100 Satellite Radio Receiver

Figure 63. MusicGremlin Portable Wi-Fi Device

Figure 64. Portable Digital Music Players with Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi Uptake over Forecast Period

Figure 65. Wi-Fi in Portable Digital Music Players: Wi-Fi Technology Breakdown

Figure 66. Nokia 770 Internet Tablet

Figure 67. PMPs with Embedded Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi Uptake over Forecast Period

Figure 68. Digital Video Camcorders: Wi-Fi Uptake over Forecast Period

Figure 69. Dell's Axim X51V

Figure 70. Palm T/X Handheld

Figure 71. PDAs: Wi-Fi Uptake over Forecast Period

Figure 72. Wi-Fi in PDAs: Wi-Fi Technology Breakdown