News

Multimedia will propel handhelds to next level

New Report from Jon Peddie Research defines and sizes the market for multimedia on handhelds

Robert Dow

Mobile
Graphics Exhibit Relative Strength, ATI and Nvidia Lose Ground

TIBURON, CA—September 27, 2004—The mobile market
is hot and there is obvious and sustained growth in the handheld and
PDA segments. However, that growth is not universal and it is dependent
on a mix of new capabilities that will bring new customers into the
market and inspire existing customers to upgrade. “Handheld Multimedia
Devices: Semiconductors and IP enabling multimedia on handhelds and
phones” is a new report from Jon Peddie Research. Building on
their groundbreaking work in graphics and multimedia hardware and
software, Jon Peddie Research (http://www.jonpeddie.com)
has turned its attention to the complex and rapidly evolving handheld/handset
market. JPR reports that shipments of handhelds/handsets will be strong
but not even across the main segments or geographies as new devices
taking advantage of co-processors and new powerful SoCs based devices
enter into the market.

The multimedia phone is just taking off and that segment is showing
the greatest growth.

Multimedia handsets vs. total handset market.

However, as the report points out, it won’t be an easy ride for
everyone. Initially handset suppliers of multimedia phones will use
multimedia accelerator co-processors to satisfy time-to-market demands.
Inevitably the market will transition to system-on-a-chip (SoC) designs,
which integrate multimedia acceleration. This will cause a consolidation
of the market resulting in business failures and acquisitions as the
technology is assimilated by the bigger players, the report states.

The 500-page report, “Handheld Multimedia Devices: Semiconductors
and IP enabling multimedia on handhelds and phones,” includes
238 charts, tables, and illustrations including market forecasts,
distribution channel, block diagrams, and roadmaps.

The Handheld Report promises to be another definitive work that
will long be used as a guide to this exciting dynamic market.