Worldwide PMP/MP3 player unit shipments reached 200 million in 2007, and will grow to 245 million in 2012. However, the year-over-year growth rate will slow considerably over this time frame, and actually dip below 10% by the end of 2008 for the first time since the market's inception. This slowdown in shipments demonstrates the market's maturity, as well as the competitive impact the market now faces from multimedia cellphones, like the Apple iPhone.
In order to mitigate the impact from both maturation and competition, today's PMP/MP3 player manufacturers are introducing products with enhanced functionality; and the most notable feature addition consumers are starting to demand is Wi-Fi capability. In-Stat estimates that approximately 21% of PMP/MP3 players will be Wi-Fi-enabled in 2012.
In-Stat's latest report on the global PMP/MP3 player market includes worldwide forecasts for unit shipments and revenues. Regional split for unit shipments are also included. The report provides a forecast breakout for audio-only MP3 players, as well as expectations for growth in the video-enabled PMP market. The newest addition to this research is a worldwide forecast for Wi-Fi enabled PMPs throughout 2012.