Even the weak economy isn't slowing the migration to mobile and portable devices and shipments will grow more than 10% in 2009 over the previous year according to market research firm, In-Stat.
The category includes MP3 players, portable media players, digital radio receivers, e-readers, edutainment toys, handheld game consoles and personal navigation devices, is expanding to over 400 million units in 2009. By 2013, it will approach 600 million units. While some segments, such as handheld game consoles and MP3 players have hit maturity other segments continue to emerge according to the study.
Research by In-Stat found:
- Shipments of portable entertainment devices in Europe will be 157 million units in 2013. Shipments to Japan will be 58 million.
- Worldwide unit shipments for PNDs will reach approximately 56 million units in 2012.
- Total worldwide shipments of PMP & MP3 players will reach 225 million in 2009, with Asia-Pacific representing the largest geographic market.
- Worldwide e-reader shipments are expected to grow from almost 1 million units in 2008 to nearly 30 million units in 2013.
