Portable connectivity applications are driving the global Wi-Fi chipset market, with shipments growing on account of big growth from the mobile PC segment, the Portable Consumer Electronics segment, and the dual-mode handset segment, reports In-Stat. Although dual-mode cellular/Wi-Fi handsets represented only 3% of total shipments in 2006, this category will be the breakout market segment in 2007, and will reach 20% of the total chipset market in 2009, the high-tech market research firm says.


“Dual-mode cellular/Wi-Fi handsets are pushing hard into the market in 2007, with handset vendors Nokia and HTC really leveraging Wi-Fi as an alternative high-speed broadband connectivity option,” says Gemma Tedesco, In-Stat analyst. “Wi-Fi for voice is expected to pick up this year, with T-Mobile’s nationwide FMC roll-out in the US.”

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

* In 2006, 213 million Wi-Fi chipsets shipped out worldwide, representing a 32% growth rate over 2005 shipments.

* A notable market sub-segment to watch in 2007 is the portable media player market, with Microsoft’s Zune ramping up, and a Wi-Fi-enabled Apple iPod scheduled to hit shelves in the second half of 2007.

* Although 802.11n is expected to provide for +100Mbps, In-Stat expects Wi-Fi uptake in device categories such as DTVs and set-top boxes to be very slow.

The research, “The Wi-Fi Chipset Market: Portable Connectivity Applications Drive Volumes” (#IN0703869WT), covers the worldwide market for Wi-Fi chipsets. It provides forecasts for worldwide chipset unit shipments and revenues, by market segment and technology, through 2011. It also includes an overview of Wi-Fi standards and technologies, as well as profiles of major vendors.