New research from Berg Insight suggests that non-traditional mobile-enabled consumer devices have strong potential for growth. The most popular of these consumer M2M (machine-to-machine) devices are SIM-equipped satellite navigation units and e-book readers, although strong growth in handheld gaming consoles, personal tracking devices and personal health devices is also expected.
In 2010, shipments of mobile-enabled consumer devices excluding handsets, laptops and tablets reached 6.4 million. Last year’s total was 7.1 million worldwide - and the five-year period to 2016 is expected to see an average annual growth rate of 39.8%, hitting 37.9 million devices in 2016.
Johan Svanberg, Senior Analyst at Berg Insight, said “Cellular connectivity gives the freedom of being connected everywhere and there are already 12.7 million consumer M2M devices in use worldwide. In a not too distant future, a substantial part of all content and services will be delivered through mobile channels. All companies - from device vendors, content owners to service providers - need to prepare for this change and have a well thought out mobile strategy in order to stay relevant.”
[Report brochure (pdf)]