PDA-Phones Will Revitalize the PDA Market

Buffalo Grove IL, January 22, 2002-
After rapid growth for five years, the PDA market growth rate slowed significantly in 2001-especially in the USA. But help is on the way in the form of PDA-Phones, which will see explosive growth in the next five years. PDA-Phones, which is a web cell phone with PDA functionality or vice-versa, will grow from only 0.2M+ units in 2000 to nearly 19M units in 2007 for a compound annual growth rate of 87.5%. PDA-Phones in use will increase from 0.9M units at year-end 2001 to nearly 49M in 2007 or 21% of all PDAs in use. PDA-Phones in use in the USA will grow to over 14M units in 2007 or nearly 18% of all PDAs in use.

Total worldwide PDA sales will jump from 12M devices in 2000 to over 61M in 2007. The capabilities of the PDA will improve impressively by 2007 and it will become a multifunction device with built-in Internet access, digital camera, music player, scanner and other functionality. The hardware capabilities of the typical 2007 PDA will be similar to the 2001 low-end PC.

"Phone-PDA growth will follow the roll-out of 2.5G and 3G cellular networks because they need always-on packet networks to be useful", says Dr. Egil Juliussen, the author of the report. "Phone-PDAs are showing early success in Europe and the market will take-off in 2002 and 2003 in Asia and the USA".

More information is available in "Worldwide PDA Markets", a market research report by eTForecasts. The report explores technology trends, product segments, software platforms and market opportunities for PDAs.

eTForecasts publishes market research reports for the PC, information appliance and Internet industries.