There’s an untapped market for PCs with built-in mobile broadband capabilities, according to recent research.
The GSM Association (GSMA) and Microsoft released a consumer study on mobile broadband computers that shows that there is an underserved market for PCs with built-in mobile functionalities.
The study, which was conducted by Pyramid Research, said that a 70 million unit opportunity currently exists for notebook PCs in the $500 to $1,000 price range that are equipped with built-in mobile broadband abilities. The market could be worth roughly $50 billion by next year, the research said.
The research reveals a gap of potentially 46.5 million units between recent industry analyst forecasts and the new analysis, suggesting that PC manufacturers have yet to deliver the right mobile broadband PCs – bundled with pre-configured mobile connectivity – to appeal to mass-market PC buyers.
“With the right form factor, price and ‘out-of-the-box’ connectivity, the research has unearthed substantial demand for mobile-broadband-embedded notebooks that is not yet being met,” said Rob Conway, CEO of the GSMA. “Now that we understand the market potential and consumers’ requirements, we are pleased to communicate the findings to the broader industry eco-system.”
The GSMA and some of its largest operator members are sponsoring a competition to identify devices and manufacturers who are able to serve the untapped market, with the winners to be announced in February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
The GSMA is a global trade association representing more than 700 GSM mobile phone operators across 218 countries and territories. In addition, more than 200 manufacturers and suppliers support the association’s initiatives.