SOAWorld Magazine has posted a fascinating article about the “1H09 Wi-Fi Products Tracker Database” directory:
Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “1H09 Wi-Fi Products Tracker Database” directory to their offering.
The Wi-Fi Products Tracker Database provides summary data of branded WLAN end-products by product name, vendor, 802.11 technology, category, and subcategory in pivot-tables for quick analysis of trends. Detailed data is provided for in-depth analysis of product releases from 2007 to 1H09
Wi-Fi Connectivity Becoming Pervasive on Devices. Over 1000 New Wi-Fi Products Are Launched in 2008
Wi-Fi enabled products continue to proliferate across nearly all categories, including computing, networking, consumer electronics and mobile devices. Over 1,000 new products were launched with Wi-Fi in 2008; 2009 promises to surpass that mark, reports this latest report.
Among the key growth areas is stationary consumer electronics (CE) devices with Wi-Fi. Stationary CE devices include products that require access to a power source, such as televisions and digital photo frames. In 2008, manufacturers introduced nearly 100 new Wi-Fi enabled stationary CE products, up from 22 in 2007. Introductions are increasing in 2009, with over 55 in the first half of 2009.
Digital photo frames and digital audio players with Wi-Fi were among the key device types to see a surge in product introductions in 2008 compared to 2007. In 2009, Wi-Fi enabled digital televisions are among the highest growth of new product introductions for stationary CE devices. Philips consumer electronics was among the most aggressive competitors, pushing an array of new Wi-Fi-equipped digital audio players and digital TVs. In the digital photo frame category, adoption of Wi-Fi in 2008 new product introductions was broad-based across 17 different competitors
Recent research found the following:
Hewlett Packard had the most Wi-Fi enabled new product introductions of any manufacturer in 2008, and nearly tripled their new product introductions in 2008 compared to 2007.
Cisco leads the market in first half of 2009 with 802.11n-enabled product introductions overall. Samsung electronics leads market in 802.11n consumer electronics.
802.11 b/g solutions are still the dominant Wi-Fi technology in new product introductions in 2008. However, 802.11 Draft n 2.0 solutions are gaining rapidly, and are expected to become the most popular Wi-Fi technology across most product categories by the end of 2009.
Philips, looking to grab a market leadership position in Internet-enabled television sets, released more Wi-Fi enabled television sets than the rest of the market combined.
Recent research, 1H09 Wi-Fi Products Database is part of the new “Wi-Fi Product Database”. The database provides detailed tracking of the progression of Wi-Fi adoption in computing, consumer electronics, mobile phones and other electronic devices that are announced.
The database includes a detailed log of branded WLAN end-products by product name, vendor, 802.11 technology, product category, and subcategory. The data is provided in formatted pivot-tables for analysis of technology and product trends, as well as competitors.
Digital Frame News and Stats, Digital Picture Frames, Industry News, LCD Display (general), Products, Thinking Screen Media, WIFI (general), Wireless Photo Frame, Wireless Photos, Wireless Picture Frame Peripherals, Wireless Picture Frames, Wireless/Digital Photo Frame, Wireless/Digital picture frame reviews, consumer electronics, wireless consumer electronics
Good sales are predicted for wireless/digital photo frames, according to Lifestyles PR Blog:
Consumers in the UK are buying digital photo frames faster than ever before, according to Futuresource Consulting. In excess of 1.8 million digital frames were sold across the UK during 2008 and it’s estimated that ten percent of UK homes now own at least one digital picture frame.
A high number of low cost 7-inch wide screen frames contributed to an increase in sales volume of 60 percent in comparison with 2007. Sales are heavily driven by gifting and first time impulse buyers attracted by increasingly low prices. Between December 2007 and December 2008 prices fell by about 20 percent for the highly popular 7-inch wide screen model of frame.
The gifting market is very strong and there are strong sales peaks in advance of major holidays. Consumers love the ability to customize the frames by loading them with photographs prior to handing over their gift and many are now becoming aware of the possibility of providing “updates”, either by passing over a new memory card with new photos on it or even by wirelessly downloading a batch of photos from the web.
Well known brand names such as Kodak, Philips, Samsung, Toshiba and Sony grew their market share (to 54 percent) in 2008, but unbranded frames and lesser known models continued to sell well also.
Even allowing for the current economic climate, sales are expected to grow by between 10 and 20 percent in 2009. Market analysts are forecasting that we will see increasing numbers of “convergence products” – items such as iPods, TVs, notebooks etc. which include picture frame functionality – and that these may gradually erode the sales of dedicated digital frames.
That would certainly seem quite reasonable considering the large number of products which are now incorporating digital frames. Small 1.5 inch key ring type frames are perhaps a predictable development – but thermal travel mugs, desk tidies and even sunglasses with digital frames are also currently available in the marketplace.
In fact, as digital frames are developed with ever increasing functionality it may become difficult to tell whether a device is a frame which can also browse the net or another type of device which can also display photographs. Frames already exist which can read news feeds from the internet and receive wireless transmission of photographs from internet photo sharing sites. Similarly, large screen TVs which can be used to display family photos rather than a blank screen when they are in standby mode, are now available.
In summary, digital photo frames must now be regarded as a mainstream consumer product rather than a high technology gadget. Their mass appeal in the gifting market will guarantee ongoing sales growth in 2009, in spite of the economic climate, and future technology fusion will drive further sales growth in the medium to long term.
John Walko at Video Imaging Design Line gives us some very interesting statistics about silicon providers for digital picture frames:
Courtesy of EE Times Europe
LONDON — The total silicon opportunity for digital photo frame suppliers will exceed $550 million by 2013, according to market research group InStat.
Microcontrollers are said to represent the largest opportunity in non-wireless enabled devices.
In a major study of the sector, InStat also found that the bill of materials for a wireless 8-inch digital photo frame will fall below $36 by 2013, with the LCD, the wireless module and the enclosure being the dominant cost items.
The researchers predict worldwide unit shipments for all types of digital photo frames will reach 50 million by 2013.
However because of the trend to purchase digital photo frames as gifts pre-loaded with pictures, most units shipped still lack advanced features such as wireless connectivity to the Internet. Nevertheless, wireless-enabled photo frames are a key growth driver as they will grow at twice the rate of overall digital photo frames in 2010.
“Prices for connected frames will continue to decline, and as manufacturers educate consumers about these devices; the mass market will become more comfortable using the Internet services connected frames support,” says Stephanie Ethier, In-Stat analyst.
Ethier adds applications such as sharing and downloading pictures over the Internet, as well as streaming Internet radio and video from online sites like YouTube, will be the main drivers in the sector.
Some of the major digital photo frame vendors and their silicon providers are said to include HP, Kodak, Pandigital, Philips, Samsung, Sony, RMI Corporation, Marvell Technology Group, and Samsung Electronics.
** Separately, Conexant said Tuesday (June 30) it has started sampling a range of SoCs targeting the connected photo frame and interactive display appliances market.
The parts integrate integrate Internet connectivity and touch-screen technology. The CX92735 supports streaming media content, MP3 audio playback with slideshow functionality, and Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet connectivity.
The device integrates an ARM9 processor with a vector floating point unit and a dedicated image processor, which simultaneously processes streamed content.
Bluetooth, Content provider, Digital Frame News and Stats, Digital Novelties, Digital Picture Frames, FrameMedia, Industry News, LCD Display (general), Products, RSS feed, Streaming Internet Radio, WIFI (general)
WELLESLEY, MA–(Marketwire – May 28, 2009) – Frame Media Inc., the company that is defining the content experience on wireless digital photo frames and other new types of connected display devices, today announced that it has added content from Twitter, CNET, and Eventful to its free FrameChannel® (www.framechannel.com) service.
Together, these popular content brands are providing a total of 29 new content channels to FrameChannel’s selection of more than 1000 content channels in 19 categories. FrameChannel makes it easy for users to select the local, national, social networking, or photo sharing content they care about most and program their wireless digital photo frames and other connected devices to feature that content. Now, as users move through their home or office, they can view a rotation of the latest news, weather, sports, traffic, financial data, Twitter feeds, and much more, in addition to the latest photos from their favorite photo sharing services.
“Frame Media’s goal is to simplify and automate the content gathering process for consumers, while bringing new value to connected display devices,” said Alan Phillips, CEO of Frame Media. “Participation from top content brands like Eventful, Twitter, and CNET is an essential ingredient. These companies recognize the opportunity to extend their brands via these emerging media devices, and are looking to us as the catalyst that makes the process seamless.”
“Eventful provides the world’s largest selection of local events, from concerts and sports to singles events and kids activities,” said Jordan Glazier, CEO of Eventful. “A key to our success has been our multi-platform approach, helping users discover local events however they prefer to receive information. FrameChannel is a great fit because it helps consumers discover events within a new category of consumer electronics devices.”
Eventful delivers local content to FrameChannel users across nine channels including local kids events, concerts and live music, galleries and art, neighborhood events, and more. Users simply enter their zip code and their preference of Eventful channels to customize the content to their own interests. CNET has added 18 news channels ranging from Green Tech, to Business Tech, to Personal Tech, to a selection of popular blogs and technology review features. Twitter has added channels that let users view Tweets from both people they follow, and for their favorite search terms.
Frame Media is riding the wave of rapid adoption of “connected” display devices, or what Phillips calls “the 4th screen.” In a recent study, Parks Associates sees the connected consumer electronics market almost doubling by 2013. A connected device is one that allows access to files stored on a home network or the Internet, and can be anything from a TV, to a Blu-Ray player, to a game console. By 2013, an estimated 100 million of these devices will be sold each year, compared to the 57 million that are expected to sell in 2009. Consumers will seek entire-home access to media, and will require a terabyte of storage space for their shared media. Frame Media has been forming alliances with hardware providers such as Kodak, Samsung, and D-Link to incorporate FrameChannel access into these devices.
Content providers who are interested in creating channels on FrameChannel should fill out the submission form available at http://www.framemedia.com/plusframechannel.php for a response within 48 hours.
Consumer electronics providers who are interested in customizing, co-branding, and integrating FrameChannel with their devices should go to http://www.framemedia.com/certification.php to learn about the FrameChannel certification program and FrameChannel Integration Guide, which is built on the Media RSS standard.
About Frame Media, Inc. (www.framemedia.com)
Frame Media is a leader in delivering content to “the 4th screen,” or the new category of connected devices that includes WiFi photo frames, connected TVs, media players, and more. Its free FrameChannel service (www.framechannel.com) can be customized and integrated with these devices, and is today available on a growing number of products by top brands such as Kodak, Samsung, and D-Link. FrameChannel users can easily select their favorite local, national, social networking, or photo sharing content from more than 1000 channels, and program their devices to feature that content. FrameChannel intelligently streams the most timely content from the selected channels, so users can always view the very latest information as they move through their homes or offices.
