I wonder what happened the year after 35 million cell phones were sold worldwide. I bet shipments more than doubled — might have even quadrupled. That’s how technology typically grows. In 2008, 35 million cellular modems shipped, so we could see a real gaudy number by the end of 2009. Well, that is, we would have if it weren’t for this worldwide recession. We’ll still see some growth in the number of cellular modems shipped, but it won’t be by an astronomical multiplier.
ABI Research has the word on growth for mobile modems: “However, shipment rates will continue to grow, albeit at a slower place, because this is an underpenetrated market and because of subsidies and other incentives offered by mobile operators.”
Also of note: 3.5 million laptops came with embedded modems in 2009. “ABI Research expects that, building on a good showing of 3.5 million units in 2008, shipments of embedded modems will more than double in 2009.” That’s good news. I wonder if this will ever see growth like embedded Wi-Fi cards, which are pretty much standard in new laptops.
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