| Information Appliances are
Segmenting the Internet
Buffalo Grove, IL, November 6, 2000-
The emergence of information appliances are changing and evolving
the Internet. It has become abundantly clear that the wireless Internet
will have significant differences from the current PC-dominated Internet.
The web cellular phone's small screen and limited keyboard is not
compatible with the vast majority of current web pages. Furthermore,
most web cellular users need content that is very different from current
PC Internet content.
The emerging entertainment information appliances, which are mostly
based on consumer electronics products, are currently tapping into
the PC Internet. But over the next five years entertainment IAs will
create a need for different Internet content and further web segmentation
will happen. The next table summarizes the key differences among these
three Internet segments.
| Market Characteristics |
Original Internet
Maturing segment
Billions of content pages |
Start-up phase
Cautious content owners
Need broadband |
Ready to take-off
Need packet network
Need useful content |
| Client Characteristics |
High performance
Hi-resolution display
User programmable |
Many targeted devices
Streaming audio/video
Media-rich content |
Limited capabilities
Small display
Limited keyboard |
| Typical Clients |
Desktop PCs
Notebook PCs
Internet PCs
Web terminals |
Web set-top boxes
Web personal VCRs
Web game consoles
Web music devices |
Web cellular phones
Web PDAs
Web pocket PCs |
| Usage Characteristics |
Long sessions
Deep content
Multi-purpose use |
Long sessions
Frequent sessions
Entertainment use |
Short sessions
Frequent sessions
Content urgency |
| Commonality
|
E-mail, instant messaging, simple financial transactions, news |
| Unique Applications |
Intelligent shopping
Media-rich shopping
Backup for other IAs
IA synchronization |
Interactive TV programs
Personalized TV
New interactive content
Music/video subscriptions |
Voice communication
traffic reports/directions
Reservations & schedules
Payments to machines |
| Users Year-end 2000 |
USA: 130M
Worldwide: 370M |
USA: 2M
Worldwide: 3.5M |
USA: 2M
Worldwide: 25M |
| Users Year-end 2005 |
USA: 190M
Worldwide: 850M |
USA: 30M
Worldwide: 140M |
USA: 80M
Worldwide: 800M |
| Summary |
"Solves life's big problems" |
"Solves life's leisure problems" |
"Solves life's little problems" |
"The PC Internet will start sharing the limelight with the wireless
and entertainment Internets in the next five years. This is due phenomenal
growth of information appliances with web capabilities," says Dr.
Egil Juliussen, the author of the report. "Most of these web-enabled
devices are existing high-volume products with added IA functionality."
These are some of the results from a new information appliance market
research report by eTForecasts. The report explores technology trends,
product segments and market opportunities and gives an understanding
of the many different information appliance segments, how they are
likely to evolve, geographic differences and how they will affect
existing markets and industries.
eTForecasts publishes market research reports for the PC and Internet
industries. |
