SA: WLAN to Swarm Notebooks

BOSTON and LONDON -- The latest Strategy Analytics Wireless Device Strategies report, “Wireless Connectivity Options Beyond Cellular: WLAN & Notebook PCs,” concludes that 90% of notebook PCs sold worldwide will contain embedded WLAN in 2008, up from 24% in 2003, to reach an installed base of 141M WLAN-connected portable devices.

“An industry-wide technology push from Cisco, Intel, Intersil and other enabling technology vendors will be one critical driver of WLAN notebook PC sales," states Neil Mawston, Senior Analyst in the Global Wireless Practice at Strategy Analytics. “Notebook vendor desperation to stem average selling price declines in the next 3 years will be the other key catalyst.”

“WLAN, and its potential to enable relatively simple, wire-free Internet, Intranet and remote data access, will be a key driver of new and replacement notebook PC sales through 2008,” notes David Kerr, VP of the Global Wireless Practice at Strategy Analytics. Kerr adds, “Security concerns will, of course, remain a key issue, particularly in the on-campus enterprise segment. However, security concerns will inhibit wireless data usage rather than actual notebook sales, as powerful chip and PC vendors look to force WLAN connectivity into the enterprise channel.”

Other findings from this report include:

Strategy Analytics Inc.