After Sluggish Debut, WUSB Prospects Looking Up
Portable Design News, Wednesday August 06, 2008
Wireless USB (WUSB) is currently hampered by the high price of the underlying UWB silicon, reports In-Stat. This is expected to limit its appeal until prices fall substantially, the high-tech market research firm says. Targeted at PCs, PC peripherals, consumer electronics (CE), and mobile phones, the first devices with WUSB technology shipped in 2007, including notebook PCs and hub and dongle solutions.
"The beginnings of a new wireless ecosystem have launched, and should lead to increased shipments in the years ahead," says Brian O'Rourke, In-Stat analyst. "Ultimately, UWB and WUSB will succeed because they solve problems that no other technology can; the ability to transmit large amounts of data from one device to another with relative power efficiency."
Recent research by In-Stat found the following:
- Just under 100,000 WUSB devices shipped in 2007, a total that will surpass 190 million in 2012.
- Competition will come from other WiMedia-based standards, as well as technologies such as Wi-Fi.
- Notebook PCs will lead the adoption of WUSB.
In-Stat, Scottsdale, AZ (480) 483-4440 [www.in-stat.com]
