News

“Connected” PDAs Will Outnumber "Traditional” PDAs
 by the Year 2006. 
-Smartphones May be Left in the Dust

According to extensive studies by ABI-Technology Market Research, PDA’s that incorporate wireless functionality will replace most of the existing consumer’s current units over the next three years.  PDA manufacturers have been facing declining sales over the last couple of years partially due to the fact that users have no significant reason to replace their current PDA.  However, with the rise of units offering integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies, significant growth can be expected in the PDA industry.

Are you thinking that “Smartphones” will steal the show?  Think again.  The ABI research also suggests that “Connected PDA’s” will represent over 50% of the total PDA market by 2006.  Smartphones on the other hand are expected to represent only a small portion of the overall “handset market” which is considered a class by itself.

Additionally a separate ABI report predicts the growth of the overall PDA industry to reach $10 billion by 2008 and the majority of that growth to be based on sales from Connected PDAs.  Although other research has claimed a decline

in the sales of “Traditional PDAs” or those without integrated wireless functionality, ABI research suggests that a “modest growth of 8%” will occur through 2008. 

For further information, visit the ABI website at www.abiresearch.com

UPDATE:  Per Andrew Baxter's suggestion, here is a related story regarding the future of Wi-Fi:  http://www.bargainpda.com/default.asp?newsID=1750

Barry J. Doyle