3G network deployments have contributed to a sharp
uptake in cellular modem adoption to provide wireless connectivity
to laptops, UMPCs and desktop computers, according to a new study
from ABI Research.
The 2007 study,
“Cellular
Modems and Mobile Broadband Connectivity”, revealed
that cellular modem sales, including PC Cards, Express Cards,
USB modems, embedded modems and 3G/Wi-Fi routers cumulatively,
increased more than 300% compared to 2006. The firm forecasts
that by 2013, shipments of cellular modems will exceed 200
million units.
The factors driving this market, said ABI, go beyond a very
competitive modem supplier market and 3G networks. Enterprise
customers have been the traditional buyers of these devices, but
the analyst firms said that as operators have expanded their
portfolio of mobile broadband price plans, this has opened up the
market to SMB and consumer demand.
In addition, it predicted that Qualcomm’s Gobi, the eventual
consolidation to GSM 3G and 4G networks, and
WiMAX will all have positive effects on the supply chain,
creating cellular-enabled devices which will drive up sales of
embedded modems.