Wireless HDTV Technologies Battle for A Million Installations in 2012, According...

Wireless HDTV Technologies Battle for A Million Installations in 2012, According to ABI Research

NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
We've got wireless phones, wireless Internet and wireless home
networks. Next, coming to a living room or commercial facility near
you, is wireless high-definition TV. However, the market is still in
its "incubation" stage, with fewer than 100,000 devices expected to
ship this year. According to a new study from ABI Research, optimistic
forecasts point to 2012 as the earliest year for the milestone of one
million wireless HDTV installations worldwide.

Meanwhile, a "battle of technologies" is being fought. There are
three contending systems, loosely characterized as: 5 GHz, 60 GHz, and
ultra wideband (UWB).

"5 GHz technology is better understood and more proven," says
principal analyst Steve Wilson, "but achieving the required data rates
requires new approaches and more complex solutions. UWB technology has
bandwidth advantages at in-room distances but drops rapidly at greater
ranges. 60 GHz allows high data rates, but so far only one company is
even close to a viable solution."

Small numbers of 5 GHz and UWB devices are currently shipping;
demo products of 60 GHz systems are expected early next year. "Over
the next two to three years, we're going to see one or two of these
wireless HDTV approaches emerge as the primary ones," says Wilson.

Who would want wireless HDTV and why? Wireless will simplify some
installations and allow more flexibility in positioning TVs. There are
both commercial applications - digital signage, for example - and
domestic applications such as wall-mounting a flat-screen HDTV. "The
initial sweet spot in the market is where wired installation would be
difficult or complicated," says Wilson.

All the wireless HDTV silicon vendors are venture-backed startups
and most established wireless vendors are waiting to see how the
market evolves. Product manufacturers are moving forward with
different strategies: some, like Westinghouse and Belkin are initially
targeting commercial and custom installers where there is clear
value-add. In contrast, some TV manufacturers such as Sharp and
Hitachi are targeting buyers of their latest technology, offering
design-oriented, elegant products that come with a wireless
connectivity option.

"Wireless Video Cable Replacement Market and Technologies"
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/market_research/Wireless_Video_
Cable_Replacement_Market_and_Technologies) provides an in-depth
analysis of these competing technologies and companies as well as an
outlook for the adoption of these devices in the marketplace.

In forms part of two ABI Research Services, Consumer Video
Technologies
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Consumer_Video_
Technologies_Research_Service), and Home Networking
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Home_Networking_Research_
Service).

ABI Research is a leading market research firm focused on the
impact of emerging technologies on global consumer and business
markets. Utilizing a unique blend of market intelligence, primary
research, and expert assessment from its worldwide team of industry
analysts, ABI Research assists hundreds of clients each year with
their strategic growth initiatives. For information, visit
www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.

Long URLs in this release may need to be copied/pasted into your
Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one
exists.

ABI Research
Nicole Fabris, 516-624-2542
pr@abiresearch.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008