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Information Appliances and Pervasive Net Access
Format: Binder
ISBN: 0-933217-94-3
Price:
$2,695
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| Overview · Table of Contents · Features · Who Should Read This Report |
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OVERVIEW
Internet standards have opened up opportunities for new classes of devices that extend beyond the desktop-computer paradigm into one that relies on more affordable, easier-to-use, and easier-to-maintain "appliances" to access the Internet. The vision is for Internet access by anyone, anytime, anywhere, and on any device—truly pervasive Internet access.
This explosion of Internet appliances into the consumer marketplace implies major opportunities for network service providers, content providers, and device manufacturers alike. Indeed, U.S. shipments of consumer information appliances—including Internet-connected terminals, TVs, game consoles, and handheld computers—are expected to surpass those of home PCs in 2001. By 2004, more than 24 million U.S. households are expected to have broadband Internet access, and this will drive the adoption of Internet-connected devices, such as wireless Web pads, e-mail–only appliances, Web TVs, game consoles, screen phones, PDAs and handheld PCs, Internet-capable mobile phones, consumer network computers, and others. These devices will drive the demand for broadband network services that are being developed and deployed by service providers.
To help communications companies understand the opportunity and potential of this exploding market, the International Engineering Consortium is pleased to present an in-depth research report, Information Appliances and Pervasive Net Access. Authored by Parks Associates, this report provides detailed product descriptions of devices currently or soon to be on the market, as well as forecasts of key industry sectors and growth trends.
The report finds that the information appliance segments that will grow the fastest are those with replacement markets, such as mobile phones, game consoles, and digital TV, although all segments should see strong growth. Of the emerging markets, the fastest growing is portable digital music players, which just started in 1998 and will grow to more than 100 million units worldwide by 2005. Accommodating the connectivity and broadband access requirements of devices such as these will pose significant challenges—and opportunities—for service providers over the coming years.