REPORT SCOPE
INTRODUCTION
Changes in mobile phones are occurring rapidly. Many of these changes are driven by advances in mobile computing and the data capabilities of cellular network infrastructures. This positive traction on the application side has necessitated the adoption of allied wireless standards that have diverse purposes, ranging from short-range communication to subscriber authentication. This report forecasts the market size for such waveform chipsets in mobile phones.
Some definitions are in order here:
- Mobile phone refers to all devices (including smartphones) that offer cellular voice connectivity.
- Smartphones are mobile phones embellished with superior computing features and thereby support for office applications, navigation, personal information management and multimedia capabilities.
- Personal digital assistants (PDAs) are handheld computing devices that have over the years added voice and data connectivity to their features. In a sense, there is little to distinguish between PDAs and smartphones.
- Non-smartphones are all mobile phones that are not smartphones.
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
This study’s goals and objectives include the following:
- Forecasting the market size for key non-cellular waveform chipsets for use in mobile phones in terms of dollar and unit sales
- Classifying the market size for key non-cellular waveform chipsets for use in mobile phones by waveform type
- Classifying the market size for key non-cellular waveform chipsets for use in mobile phones by mobile phone type
- Classifying the market size for key non-cellular waveform chipsets for use in mobile phones by geographic region
- Forecasting the market size for key non-cellular waveform chipsets in mobile phones in terms of subscriber volumes
- Classifying the subscriber volume for key non-cellular waveform chipsets in mobile phones by mobile phone type
- Classifying the subscriber volume for key non-cellular waveform chipsets in mobile phones by geographic region
- Analyzing the drivers and challenges for individual non-cellular waveform in the context of integration with mobile phones
- Tracing the evolution of the mobile phone
- Highlighting the roles played by major stakeholders and players
- Providing an overview of the activities of influential companies
- Examining crucial innovation breakthroughs through a detailed patent analysis
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
Smartphones were able to sustain the recessionary trend resulting from the meltdown of the global financial markets in 2008 and 2009. The resilience of smartphones in the face of such enormous adversity can be attributed to its enormous potential in engendering application diversity, which is continuously evolving.
Smartphones have a different market dynamic than mobile phones in general. The most important difference in the buyer profiles of these devices is that in the smartphone-user segment, the purchase decision is based on the intrinsic value of the product, while in the mobile phone-user segment, it is based on the cost of the product. In simpler words, smartphone buyers base their buying decision largely on the features included in the smartphone, while mobile phone users employ price of the product as the principal purchase criterion. Smartphone buyers are thus looking for imaginative value additions that a particular feature would provide to their lifestyle, while the mobile phone users look at the product as a commodity. The flexibility lent to smartphone by its buyer-outlook in terms of pricing propels designers to include additional waveforms that can support newer attributes and functions.
BCC Research forecasts that within the next 5 years, smartphones will exceed non-smartphones in shipment volumes. It is extremely interesting to explore the prospects of non-cellular waveforms in such exciting times.
It is important to note that with a couple of exceptions, most non-cellular waveforms are not exclusive to mobile phones. However, mobile phones have emerged as the largest category of devices employing these waveforms.
The content of this report is thus relevant to a wide range of cellular industry stakeholders, non-cellular waveform stakeholders, as well as end users.
SCOPE OF THE REPORT
This report presents the forecasts for non-cellular waveform markets in mobile phones for 2010 through 2015 on a volume and value basis. The report also presents the size of the chipset market for various wireless individual waveforms employed in mobile phones.
The report restricts itself to mobile phones and does not include data cards, netbooks, e-book readers, and other mobile Internet devices that employ cellular waveforms for their operations.
The report covers the following non-cellular waveforms:
- Bluetooth
- Near-field communication (NFC)
- Broadcast mobile TV (mobile TV)
- Global positioning system (GPS)
- Frequency modulation (FM) radio
- Wi-Fi
The geographic scope of this report is the global market. The following regions are considered:
- Americas
- Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA)
- Asia-Pacific (APAC)
The market is also classified by the type of mobile phones employing these chipsets. The following classes are considered:
The report also forecasts the market size for the chipsets in terms of subscriber volumes. The subscriber volume data is broken down based on the following parameters:
- Non-cellular waveform types
- Mobile phone type
- Geographic region
The “Executive Summary” chapter presents a breakdown of non-cellular waveform chipsets sales revenues for mobile phones by individual non-cellular waveforms.
The chapter “Non-cellular Waveforms Put into Context” builds the case for non-cellular waveforms, compares the distinctions between smartphones and others, covers significant cellular waveforms, and traces the changes in mobile phones.
The chapter “Individual Waveforms and Their Prospects” covers the prospects of individual non-cellular waveforms, while focusing on how the particular waveform fits in with the mobile device ecosystem while considering the benefits and challenges offered by each waveform.
The chapter “Stakeholder Classification and Analysis” classifies the major stakeholders and analyzes the initiatives of major representative companies and institutions.
The “U.S. Patent Analysis” chapter covers innovative activities that impact non-cellular waveforms in mobile phones. Patents are classified based on end-use applications and the architectural aspects of chipsets. They are also broken down based on timing, assignee countries, and assignee organizations.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
This study provides a granular analysis of the market for non-cellular waveforms in mobile phones as follows:
- Identifies the major non-cellular waveforms.
- Breaks down non-cellular waveform chipset sales revenues by waveform type, mobile phone type, and geographic region.
- Breaks down unit sales of non-cellular waveform chipsets by waveform type, mobile phone type, and geographic region
- Breaks down the subscriber base of non-cellular waveform chipsets according to waveform type, mobile phone type, and geographic region.
This report will be valuable to many industry participants, including the following:
- Handset original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
- Handset original design manufacturers (ODMs)
- Handset engineering manufacturing service (EMS) providers
- Intellectual property (IP) owners of individual waveforms
- Semiconductor chipset specialists of cellular as well as non-cellular waveforms
- Cellular operators
- Financial institutions
- Content owners and providers
METHODOLOGY
Both primary and secondary research methodologies were used in preparing this report. BCC Research presents an analysis across the global market for non-cellular waveform chipsets in mobile phones based on reported revenue dollars and units shipped. We also analyze data gathered from various research sources via the Internet. Interviews were conducted with well-placed industry sources.
INFORMATION SOURCES
The following sources have been referenced:
- Primary research including interviews with experts from companies operating in the handset and waveform domains
- Published industry data
- Shipment reports of non-listed companies
- 10-K reports
AUTHOR CREDENTIALS
Shalini R. has extensive experience analyzing and evaluating advanced information technology, including telecom and optical networks. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics and Telecommunications from Kumaraguru College of Technology in Coimbatore, India, as well as a Master of Science degree in Telecommunications and Software Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.
BCC ONLINE SERVICES
BCC offers an online information retrieval service. BCC’s home page, located at www.bccresearch.com, enables readers to:
- Examine BCC’s complete catalog of Market Research Reports and place direct orders
- Subscribe to any of BCC’s many industry newsletters
- Read announcements of recently published reports and newly launched newsletters
- Register for BCC’s well-known conferences
- Request additional information on any BCC product
- Take advantage of special offers.
DISCLAIMER
The information developed in this report is intended to be as reliable as possible at the time of publication and of a professional nature. This information does not constitute managerial, legal, or accounting advice; nor should it serve as a corporate policy guide, laboratory manual, or an endorsement of any product, as much of the information is speculative in nature. The authors assume no responsibility for any loss or damage that might result from reliance on the reported information or its use.
