Infonetics Research: Mobile broadband card sales grew 55% in 2009, driven by HSPA adoption

LONDON, Apr 06 (MARKET WIRE) --
Market research firm Infonetics Research recently published its fourth
quarter (4Q09) 2G/3G and LTE Mobile Broadband Devices and Subscribers
report, which tracks W-CDMA/HSPA, CDMA2000/EV-DO, TD-SCDMA, and LTE
mobile broadband cards.

"The effects of the recession continue to linger, with fewer than usual
USB dongles and netbooks delivered at the end of 2009, making the
normally seasonally-strong fourth quarter softer than expected for the
mobile broadband device market. However, fundamental drivers remain
strong and the market will continue to gather momentum, driven by HSPA,
and we expect to see fewer growth blips in the future," notes Richard
Webb, Infonetics Research's directing analyst for mobile devices.

MARKET HIGHLIGHTS

-- While the mobile broadband card market (including standard and
embedded cards) was soft overall in 4Q09, sales are up 55% in 2009
compared to 2008, at $6.4 billion worldwide, driven in large part by
increasing adoption of HSPA (High Speed Packet Access)

-- The number of mobile broadband subscribers surpassed DSL subscribers
for the first time in 2009, and is forecast by Infonetics Research to
grow to 1.5 billion worldwide in 2014

-- Sales of Windows-based netbooks are forecast to reach $5.9 billion in
2014; Mac-based netbooks will be the second-highest selling, followed
by Linux-based netbooks

-- Mobile broadband PC cards, including USB modems (dongles), accounted
for 74% of total mobile broadband card revenue in 2009, and embedded
mobile broadband cards on PCs, netbooks, and mobile Internet devices
(MIDs) made up 26%

-- LTE-based mobile broadband embedded PC card sales are forecast to top
US$3 billion in 2014

REPORT SYNOPSIS
Infonetics' quarterly mobile broadband card report
provides worldwide and regional market size, market share, analysis, and
forecasts for mobile broadband cards by technology, device, and operating
system (Windows, Mac, Linux, other), as well as mobile broadband
subscribers.

Companies tracked include Acer, Asus, D-Link, Dell, HP, Huawei, Kyocera,
Lenovo, LG, Motorola, NETGEAR, Novatel, Option, Proxicast, Samsung,
Sierra Wireless, SonicWALL, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, ZTE, and others.

RELATED RESEARCH

-- W-CDMA macro RAN equipment sales up 59% in 2009 as 3G rollouts
continue
-- WiMAX carriers rate Alvarion, Alcatel-Lucent, Motorola top; Cisco and
Huawei close behind
-- FMC and Femtocell Equipment, Phones, and Subscribers
-- LTE Infrastructure and Subscribers

COMING UP
See Mobile and Wireless on Infonetics' service portal for
details (http://www.infonetics.com/login):

-- 2G/3G Mobile, LTE, and WiFi Phones and Subscribers
-- 4G Strategies: Global Service Provider Survey
-- Mobile Services and Subscribers: Voice, SMS/MMS, Broadband

MORE INFORMATION
Log on or join: http://www.infonetics.com/login

From the portal, go to RESEARCH, then MOBILE AND WIRELESS.

SALES

-- Larry Howard, Vice President: larry@infonetics.com, +1 408-583-3335
-- Scott Coyne, Senior Account Director: scott@infonetics.com, +1
408-583-3395

Infonetics Research is an international market research and
consulting firm serving the communications industry since 1990. A leader
in defining and tracking emerging and established technologies in all
world regions, Infonetics helps clients plan, strategize, and compete
more effectively.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1216635

Lead Analyst:
Richard Webb
Directing Analyst, Mobile Devices
Infonetics Research
+1 408.583.3369 or +44 (0) 1689.851.618
Email Contact
http://twitter.com/richardawebb

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

-0-