Forward Concepts - CELLULAR HANDSET & TABLET CHIP MARKETS '12

Excellent report from Forward Concepts

CELLULAR HANDSET & TABLET CHIP MARKETS '12

Global cellular handset shipments grew 6.5% in 2011 to 1.51 billion units compared with 12% growth in 2010. We predict a stronger 2012 unit growth of 11%. Smartphones, however, will continue to do even better, growing a predicted 17% to the 502 million unit level this year.

The report provides extensive forecasts for all cellular handset and cellular-enabled tablets and virtually all chips that enable them (excluding memory) through 2016.  This is likely the most extensive market analysis of cellular handsets, tablets, and chips available.  While others concentrate on tracking the top 6 handset companies, we track the top 30.

Among the top 10 cellphone vendors, Nokia, Samsung and Apple topped 2011 unit shipments while Chinese suppliers Huawei, ZTE and TCL also moved into the top ten. In revenue, however, Apple led over Samsung and Nokia. We expect Samsung to pass Nokia in smartphone shipments in 2012, taking the 2nd position behind Apple.

This extensive (654-page) market study covers cellular handsets, tablets and the integrated circuits and major semiconductor components that enable those devices and profiles the major vendors of each.   Moreover, the study provides forecasts through 2016 for annual unit shipments, average selling price and revenue for handsets, tablets and individual chip components.

Although Baseband chips of several types constitute the largest non-memory cellphone chip market at $15.9 billion for 2011, There are other multi-billion-dollar cellphone chip markets, including $5.5 billion for power management units, $3.7 billion for RF transceivers, $3.6 billion for RF power amplifiers, $2.9 billion for image sensors, $2.8 billion for standalone application processors, and $2.7 billion for touch-screen controllers. 

Other cellular chips in the billion-dollar-plus class include those for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and fast-growing MEMS & sensors. Of course, GPS and AM/FM radio are also significant peripheral chips. Moreover, the wireless peripheral "combo" radio devices consisting of Wi-Fi, FM/AM, Bluetooth, GPS and (perhaps soon) NFC together now constitute a growing share of the cellphone component market.

The market for cellular peripheral chips presents new opportunities for startups and smaller companies that can be more profitable than the major core markets like basebands and application processors.

With this valuable resource, you will be better equipped to understand the market and new business opportunities, to know your potential customers and to be better informed about your competitors.  We believe that there is no other cellular handset, tablet or chip market study available that has the breadth or depth of coverage of this one.

You are invited to scan the 20-page table of contents to get an idea of the full extent of this valuable study and all of the companies and components covered. Our informed views on the global market and trends will be of great benefit in your long-term planning.