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Wearables shipments set to triple this year: IDC [ITP.net (United Arab Emirates)](ITP.net (United Arab Emirates) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The worldwide wearable computing market (commonly referred to as "wearables") is finally expanding beyond early adopter status to more functional and stylish lifestyle accessories that are "making their way onto the pages of GQ and Shape as well as Computerworld and Wired", according to global technology industry research firm International Data Corporation (IDC). According to new research from the company, wearables took a huge step forward over the past year and shipment volumes will exceed 19m units in 2014, more than tripling last year's sales. From there, the global market will swell to 111.9m units in 2018, resulting in a CAGR of 78.4%. Complex accessories (for example, Nike+ FuelBand, Jawbone UP, and Fitbit devices) will lead the wearables market through 2018 as users continue to embrace their simplicity and low price points. These devices are designed to be partially independent of any other device, but fully operate when connected with IP-capable devices such as smartphones, tablets, or PCs. "Complex accessories have succeeded in drawing much-needed interest and attention to a wearables market that has had some difficulty gaining traction," said Ramon Llamas, research manager, Mobile Phones. "The increased buzz has prompted more vendors to announce their intentions to enter this market. Most importantly, end-users have warmed to their simplicity in terms of design and functionality, making their value easy to understand and use." Another segment of the market, smart accessories, will gain momentum through the forecast period and surpass complex accessory shipments by 2018. Similar to complex accessories, with their dependence on connecting with IP-capable devices, smart accessories allow users to add third-party applications that boost features and functions for a more robust experience. While not quite ready for prime time, the smart accessory market will continue to mature as users better understand and accept the value proposition and vendors refine their offerings. The third segment of the wearables market is smart wearables, such as Google Glass, which function with full autonomy, independent of any other device except to access the Internet. To succeed, smart wearable vendors must convince users to shift to a new user experience while offering them a robust selection of third-party applications. It is not a question of "if," but "when" wearables as a whole will extend into the enterprise. Finally, according to the latest IDC ConsumerScape 360° survey of more than 50,000 consumers in 26 countries, Samsung, which has already unveiled multiple wearable computing devices, was identified as the most trusted brand for wearables, ahead of Apple, Sony, and Google. (c) 2014 ITP Business Publishing Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info, an Albawaba.com company |