A recent study by the research firm, ABI Research, indicated that a growing number of Digital Living Network Alliance, or DLNA, certified home entertainment devices are being shipped and anticipates that over 300 Million DLNA-certified consumer electronics devices will be shipped in 2012.

According to ABI, nearly 200 million DLNA certified devices were shipped in 2008, while the growth curve accelerates even faster in the future.

For those who are unaware, DLNA is a standard used by consumer electronics manufacturers, in order to enable entertainment devices within the home to share their content with each other across a home network.

DLNA has published a common set of industry design guidelines, so called DLNA Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines, which focuses on interoperability between the devices for personal media uses involving imaging, audio and video. Additionally, manufacturers involving themselves in to this will lead to more innovation, simplicity and value for consumers.

According to Jason Blackwell, director of digital home practice, consumers are increasingly finding ways to connect their various home entertainment devices and distribute digital media content around their homes. This installation is very difficult without standardization. Now, specifications developed by the DLNA, which are based on the UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) standard, help consumers to easily and seamlessly connect wide range of consumer electronics devices across the home network.

According to a recent report by ABI entitled, “Home Network Software Technologies and Markets,” indicated that currently over 5,500 devices have received the DLNA seal of approval. Many of them are Digital TVs and more than 170 TV brands have been DLNA certified in the first six months of 2009 alone.

ABI’s latest report on home network software technologies and markets not only discusses about the main home networking software standards but also provides forecasts for UPnP- and DLNA-certified devices.

According to Blackwell, the upcoming Windows 7 operating system will also include DLNA support. This will enable the consumer to use his computer running on Windows 7 to push a sequence of stored photos out to a digital picture frame and can do even more.

Blackwell further added: “Much of this new Windows functionality will be implemented through the new version of Windows Media Player, which will have a ‘Play to’ command, allowing the user to choose among several DLNA-networked playback devices to display a particular video or other media file.”

In addition, ABI study also indicated that there will be an increased participation by broadband service providers as well in this process, thereby making set-top boxes and gateways also an important part of the home network.