Wireless HD Video-Enabled HDTV's: Playing in a Neighborhood Near You

There are significant price and performance issues that need to be overcome before device manufacturers fully adopt wireless HD technology. In fact, these technologies are likely several years away from hitting the sweet spot of the consumer electronics (CE) and PC markets. But that doesn’t mean you can’t experience it today, says In-Stat. Manufacturers like LG Electronics, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Sharp Corp., and Sony Corp. are already offering models boasting Wireless HD.

“Although slow progress best describes the fate of wireless HD chip vendors in 2010, the five-year outlook is for a robust triple-digit annual growth rate” says Brian O’Rourke, Principal Analyst. “Most semiconductor players pursuing this space plan to move out from HDTVs to other CE devices, like set-top boxes, blue laser players and recorders, and digital cameras.”

Some of the findings include:

• The number of wireless HD video-enabled device shipments will rise from the current levels to approach 13 million by 2014.
• Alternative video transmission technologies, WHDI, WirelessHD, and WiGig Alliance, are vying for a dominant position. Among the differentiating factors are whole-home range, price, and performance issues, single source, and time-to-market issues.
• Strong competitive technologies include various flavors of Wi-Fi, Intel Corp’s Wireless Display (WiDi) initiative, and Sony’s TransferJet.
• WirelessHD is championed by chipmaker SiBeam and backed by NEC, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, and LG.
• WHDI (backed by AMIMON) and WirelessHD (backed by SiBeam) device shipments will both grow at triple-digit annual percentage rates through 2014.
• WiGig Alliance members include: Broadcom, Dell, Intel, LG Electronics, Microsoft, NEC Electronics, Nokia, NXP, Panasonic, and Samsung.

Recent In-Stat research Wireless HD Video Technology: WHDI and WirelessHD Establish Market, While WiGig Establishes Specification (#IN1004684MI), explores the three key wireless HD video transmission technologies of WHDI, WirelessHD, and WiGig Alliance. The report tracks the annual penetration through 2014 of all three technologies into 14 different applications within the following product segments:

• Consumer Electronics
• Personal Computers
• Mobile Phones
• Industrial/Medical Applications

For a free sample of the report and more information contact Elaine Potter, epotter@in-stat.com or (480) 483-4441.