Global Netbook Market On-Track for 35 Million Shipped in 2009, According to ABI Research

"74% of 2008 netbook shipments bore the brands of just three vendors: Acer, ASUS, and Samsung," says senior analyst Jeff Orr. "However, the rapid growth of netbooks as a second computer in developed markets will be eclipsed in coming years by vendors targeting developing nations and first Internet PCs at home."

The netbook and nascent MID markets are not locked up. While several of the leading netbook vendors are recognizable brands from the laptop and desktop computing markets, new vendors - including handset maker Nokia - have introduced netbooks and MIDs in an effort to participate in the growth of these segments. ABI Research forecasts UMDs (Ultra-mobile Devices: the combination of Netbooks, MIDs and UMPCs) to top 124 million systems shipped in 2011.

As netbook markets thrive, the mobile consumer electronics category, which is expected to account for only about two million device shipments this year, is forecast to top 50 million in 2014. This market is currently led by connected Personal Navigation Devices (PNDs) and eBook readers. Every major navigation company is in the running, offering turn-by-turn navigation, overlays, weather, traffic, and real-time traffic updates. Amazon's Kindle has lots of competition coming from the Barnes & Noble Nook, Sony Daily Edition, iRex, Plastic Logic Que and others.

Finally, Orr believes, laptop vendors may soon "reinvent the UMPC," bringing down the low-end laptop price to $500 through ultra-low voltage machines. "That could affect some netbook sales in developed markets, especially the business users."

ABI Research's "Netbooks, MIDs and Mobile CE Market Data" (http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1003389) includes forecasts for all Ultra-mobile Devices (UMDs) including UMPCs, netbooks, mobile Internet devices (MIDs) and mobile consumer electronics (CE) devices. Shipments, ASPs, and revenue for these devices are provided, including shipments and revenues for each type of UMD by region, platform, operating system, connectivity, and navigation attach rates.

It is a component of the firm's Netbooks, MIDs and Mobile CE Research Service (http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Netbooks_MIDs_and_Mobile_CE).

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research's worldwide team of experts advise thousands of decision makers through 27 research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.

ABI Research
Christine Gallen, Tel: +1-516-624-2542
pr@abiresearch.com