Upside for Wireless Broadband USB Modem
The majority of cellular broadband modems purchased as add-ons to portable and mobile wireless computing devices have traditionally been bought by businesses -- to equip their mobile workforces.However, according to a new market study by ABI Research, in 2010 51 percent of these modems -- mostly in the USB adapter form factor -- will ship into the consumer segment. By 2014 that percentage is expected to rise to 63 percent.
"The decline in mobile broadband modem sales to business and the rapid growth of the consumer segment have several causes," says senior analyst Jeff Orr.
The overall economic climate has put a crimp in business spending and lengthened equipment replacement cycles. At the same time the explosion in consumer demand for mobility, fueled in large part by the popularity of netbooks, has pushed up consumer interest.
The popularity of the USB form factor, which has all but eclipsed the older PCMCIA and CardBus formats, has also influenced consumer adoption with its compact size and ease of installation. In some markets, declining modem prices have also boosted sales.
Although new mobile computing products will increasingly feature embedded modem modules, penetration will remain slow in the near-term.
ABI believes that in 2009 less than 5 percent of laptops and netbooks have embedded modems. However over the long-term, the attachment rates will reach significant levels. In 2014, 48 percent of laptops and netbooks shipping will include 3G or 4G data connectivity.
Another factor will shape the market in the mid-term, says Orr. "In 2011 and 2012 we will see the first significant nationwide access to mobile WiMAX and LTE networks in multiple geographic regions. That will create demand to upgrade to compatible modems, breathing new life into the market."
Labels: 3G, 4G, device, lte, mobile, segmentation, wimax, wireless
posted by David H. Deans @ 11/04/2009
2 Comments:
Several years ago I recognized the upside of USB mobile broadband. I have homes in two different states. Before I would have to disconnect from Comcast in one home and then order service from RoadRunner in my other home. it was quite frankly a pain in the behind every six months. Now I merely take the USB unit out of one computer and plug it into the other. No fuss, no muss. The several main downsides are, 1) I had to make sure the signal strength was good (3 or 4 bars) in each location (Sprint & Verizon were easily the best), 2) monthly charges are more than regular hi-speed cable, 3) there are now download limits, and 4) no matter what the advertising claims are, it is not as fast as wired hi-speed service. I also purchased a Cradlepoint portable router that works like a charm. One more thing. Both companies require a 2 year contract.
James,
Thank you for sharing your application experience. Clearly, that's yet another reason why it's so important to have broadband service delivery options -- then we can choose what compromise(s) is acceptable to us, given our needs.
The other thing, that's often missing from service provider support, is guidance on radio modem optimization. The things that may effect performance -- like signal strength.
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