In one of its recent reports titled, “Wireless Connectivity Market Data”, ABI Research (News - Alert) revealed that the wireless connectivity market surpassed the $8 billion mark in 2011. The research highlighted the fact that wireless connectivity ICs will produce revenues close to $40 billion for Bluetooth, near-field communications (NFC), Wi-Fi, GPS and combo ICs through 2016.
On the basis of a comprehensive review of the wireless connectivity market, the research provides forecasts up to the year 2016 for enabled devices and ICs in 27 individual end applications. It covers Bluetooth, Bluetooth v4.0, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, NFC, GPS, 802.15.4, UWB, and combo ICs.
Owning 30 percent of the worldwide connectivity IC shipment, Broadcom currently has the most dominant market presence. The company is predicted to continue to dominate the rapidly growing combo IC market. Further, Qualcomm commands 20 percent of the market share and the company’s strong point is its GPS technology-based products.
CSR (News - Alert) has failed to retain its high flying position in the Bluetooth market, but with its acquisition of SiRF technologies, CSR is still a major presence in the worldwide market.
With a 10 percent market share, Texas Instruments (News - Alert) holds the fourth position and is just narrowly behind CSR. According to the ABI Research, TI is benefiting from entering the combo IC market early.
The report held that mergers and acquisitions will continue to shape the wireless connectivity space. In fact, through the acquisition of Atheros (News - Alert), Qualcomm has significantly expanded its wireless connectivity offering. And currently, the company is strategically developing the integrated platform for the SoC market, capable to serve the burgeoning low to mid-end smartphone and media tablet markets.
“The overall market saw strong growth in 2011. Attach rates for all technologies are increasing, leading to combo IC growth. The next challenge for IC vendors is integration into higher level SoCs,” Practice Director of Semiconductors at ABI, Peter Cooney said in the report.
“If Qualcomm’s (News - Alert) S4 platform dominates this market with integrated Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS, it is likely to be an increasing threat to the other suppliers such as Broadcom, CSR, and TI,” Cooney added.
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Edited by Jamie Epstein