DVI won't die and HDMI rolls on report gives annual penetration forecasts through 2014

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "DVI and HDMI: DVI Won't Die and HDMI Rolls On" report to its offering.

Digital visual interface (DVI) and high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) are related, high-bandwidth, unidirectional, uncompressed digital interface standards. 2010 is seeing HDMI continuing to increase attach rates in both consumer electronic (CE) and PC segments, while DVI is showing resilience for an 11-year-old technology.

DVI device shipments should continue to increase for the next few years, primarily in PCs and PC peripherals, before starting a slow decline due to competition from both DisplayPort and HDMI, as well as DVI's lack of a roadmap to update its standard.

HDMI continued as the dominant interface in CE devices, particularly DTVs, Blu-ray and DVD players and recorders, A/V receivers, and game consoles. Within PCs, HDMI is gaining traction in mobile PCs, graphics cards, and PC monitors. The next significant target for HDMI devices is portable devices, including digital still cameras, camcorders, and mobile phones.

This report gives annual penetration forecasts through 2014 for both DVI and HDMI in 20 separate applications within PCs, PC peripherals, CE devices, mobile phones, and automobiles. Results from In-Stat's annual residential technology survey illustrate consumer responses on familiarity with, and use of, HDMI in the home are provided. Brief profiles of DVI and HDMI chip and IP suppliers are provided.

Digital visual interface (DVI) and high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), are related, highbandwidth, unidirectional, uncompressed digital interface standards. 2010 is seeing HDMI continuing to increase attach rates in both consumer electronic (CE) and PC segments, while DVI is showing resilience for an 11-year-old technology.

DVI device shipments should continue to increase for the next few years, primarily in PCs and PC peripherals, before starting a slow decline due to competition from both DisplayPort and HDMI, as well as DVIs lack of a roadmap to update its standard.

HDMI continued as the dominant interface in CE devices, particularly DTVs, Blu-ray and DVD players and recorders, A/V receivers and game consoles. Within PCs, HDMI is gaining traction in mobile PCs, graphics cards, and PC monitors. The next significant target for HDMI devices is portable devices, including digital still cameras, camcorders, and mobile phones.

This report gives annual penetration forecasts through 2014 for both DVI and HDMI in 20 separate applications within PCs, PC peripherals, CE devices, mobile phones, and automobiles. Results from In-Stats annual residential technology survey illustrate consumer responses on familiarity with, and use of, HDMI in the home are provided. Brief profiles of DVI and HDMI chip and IP suppliers are provided.

Executive summary
Mobile phones with HDMI ports to ship in millions in 2010: The mobile phone market is perhaps the single biggest market for consumer technology devices, shipping in the billions every year, so it makes sense that HDMI chip manufacturers would pursue it. HDMI on mobile phones allows advanced media-centric phones, especially HD-enabled camera phones, to connect to displays, including HDMI-enabled digital televisions.

For the first time the number of mobile phones with HDMI ports will ship in excess of a million units in 2010, says In-Stat (www.in-stat.com). Meanwhile, HDMI has become pervasive in the consumer electronics, accounting for over 350 million devices shipping in 2010.

The emergence of phones that can capture 720p HD video has helped HDMI gain penetration over the last year, says Brian ORourke, Principal Analyst. HDMI faces significant challenges in this market, however. First, it must convince both phone vendors and wireless service providers to include an additional port on their devices. Second, HDMI faces increased competition from new interfaces such as the Mobile High-definition Link (MHL). Some of the findings include:

Overall HDMI device shipments will increase by 20.8% annually through 2014.
DVI device shipments will increase through 2011 before starting a slow decline.
HDMI is gaining traction in mobile PCs, graphics cards, and PC monitors.
DVI device shipments will begin a slow decline due to competition from both DisplayPort and HDMI.

Recent In-Stat research, DVI and HDMI: DVI Won't Die and HDMI Rolls On, gives annual penetration forecasts through 2014 for both DVI and HDMI by:

* Five product segments; PCs, PC peripherals, CE devices, mobile phones, and automobiles.
* 20 separate applications including desktop and mobile PCs, mobile PC docking stations, aftermarket graphics cards, LCD PC monitors, business projectors, digital signage, digital televisions, SD DVD players and recorders, blue laser DVD players and recorders, audio/video receivers, game consoles, digital camcorders, digital still cameras, portable media players, and mobile phones.
* Analysis of DVI and HDMI market drivers and barriers.
* Examination of HDMI, DVI, and competing technologies.
* Profiles of silicon and IP suppliers including: Analog Devices, Analogix Semiconductor, Broadcom, NXP Semiconductor, Panasonic, Parade Technologies, Silicon Image, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, TranSwitch, and Zoran.

CTIA invites wireless industry to vote for next big idea

WASHINGTON, USA: International CTIA WIRELESS 2011 announced the launch of its public voting site for the new Big Idea Contest. Designed to highlight the latest, most innovative use of wireless technology, the program attracted entries from more than 40 applicants vying for the opportunity to present their product, application or service to the attendees at International CTIA WIRELESS.

Online voting between now and February 10 will determine five finalists, and CTIA will name three winners on March 22 who will present live at the show.

International CTIA WIRELESS will take place March 22-24, 2011 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Partner events will begin on March 21.

"With this new competition, we're looking for fresh concepts that really demonstrate the transformative power of wireless technology," said Robert Mesirow, CTIA vice president and show director. "The next big ideas for mobility have the potential to shape how we live, work and interact."

Wireless and telecom industry professionals may review and vote for The BIG Idea Contest submissions at www.ctiashow.com/bigidea. The five entry categories include Apps, Content & Money; Enterprise & Vertical Markets; Handheld Devices, Modules and Wearables; Operator/Carrier Services & Network Infrastructure; and Everything Else.

Unique votes will be counted now through February 10. Winners will present on March 22 and March 23 from the Exhibit Innovations Stage at International CTIA WIRELESS.

Addition of Verizon could boost iPhone shipments in 2011

EL SEGUNDO, USA: The Verizon Wireless announcement today that it will offer the iPhone to its subscribers will sound the starting gun for worldwide shipments of the code division multiple access (CDMA) version of Apple Inc.’s smart phone, helping boost sales of the device by about 25 percent this year, according to new IHS iSuppli research.

IHS iSuppli forecasts Apple will ship 12.1 million CDMA iPhones through Verizon and other global CDMA wireless carriers in 2011. This will increase global iPhone shipments to 61.2 million units for the year, up 24.5 percent from the 49.1 million high-speed downlink packet access (HSPDA) and high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA) phones offered by AT&T in the United States and other carriers worldwide.

The CDMA model will play a critical role in sustaining the growth of iPhone shipments this year, with total iPhone shipments expected to rise by 33.3 percent for 2011. Excluding CDMA, shipments would climb by only 7 percent.

The figure presents the IHS iSuppli forecast of the share of iPhone shipments by air standard. CDMA shipments include both Verizon and other carriers using the standard, namely Japan’s KDDI and China Telecom.Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.

“The arrival of a CDMA version and the addition of Verizon as a carrier will significantly boost the available market for Apple’s iPhone,” said Tina Teng, senior analyst, wireless communications, for IHS. “Potential and current iPhone subscribers in the United States long have been clamoring for an alternative to AT&T.”

Rumors have circulated since mid-2009 that Apple would end its exclusive US iPhone service deal and begin to offer phones that work with the Verizon network. However, confirming the IHS iSuppli research outlook from September 2009, Apple maintained its deal with AT&T even after the expiration of their contract in June 2010 and continued the exclusive relationship into 2011.

Further, IHS iSuppli research in September 2009 indicated that Verizon might offer another Apple product, rather than the iPhone, such as a tablet. This also came true in 2010, when Verizon began selling the iPad.

Despite the addition of CDMA technology, the Verizon iPhone is not expected to be more costly to make or expensive for the consumer than the existing model now sold by AT&T. Given the current iPhone volumes, the expectation is that Apple either already has an intellectual property (IP) license from Qualcomm or is using its original design manufacturer’s license to cover its current wideband code division multiple (WCDMA)-based model.

The addition of a CDMA version does not require any material changes to this arrangement so its royalty or semiconductor costs are not likely to increase, according to Francis Sideco, principal analyst, wireless communications, for IHS. IHS iSuppli Teardown Analysis research in June, 2010 estimated the iPhone 4’s bill of materials (BOM) at $187.51—a total that has significantly declined in subsequent months.

CDMA iPhone shipments are expected to rise following their debut this year. Shipments will increase to 16.5 million units in 2012, and to 20.3 million in 2013. Shipments then will decline to 18.2 million in 2014, because of the increasing availability of versions of the iPhone with newer air interface standards.

IHS iSuppli research shows Apple to offer an iPhone compatible with the long-term evolution (LTE) 4G standard in 2012, which will allow the handset to take advantage of fast 4G networks. It is expected that both AT&T and Verizon to offer the phones, helping shipments to increase rapidly, amounting to 1.8 million units in 2012, rising to 11.1 million in 2013 and then expanding to 24.2 million in 2014.

The availability of iPhones with a variety of air standards from a number of carriers in the United States and elsewhere will contribute to the continued expansion of global sales. Sales will soar to 98.4 million units in 2014, up from 46 million in 2010.

Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.

SIP Forum launches SIPNOC -- SIP Network Operators Conference

NORTH ANDOVER, USA: The SIP Forum announced the SIP Network Operators Conference (SIPNOC), a new annual conference for the international service provider community.

The two-day conference will bring together the leading technical minds from the telecommunications industry to learn, discuss and formulate new ideas and strategies concerning the challenges and opportunities for SIP-based carrier services in fixed and mobile IP network environments. Unlike other events, this conference is for SIP network operations personnel, such as NOC engineers, instead of a high-level conference for executives.

The first SIPNOC 2011 conference will be held at the Hyatt Dulles Hotel in Herndon, VA April 25 -27, 2011. The event website is located at www.sipnoc.org.

“The worldwide service provider community faces a great opportunity as the use of SIP grows, but because of geographic, logistical and technological challenges, it has not had a venue through which it can share and discuss these opportunities amongst itself in a non-commercial, technically-oriented setting,” said SIP Forum chairman of the Board Richard Shockey.

“SIPNOC will provide the first true venue for SIP operators, and will build on the fact that SIP has become THE protocol of choice for carrier VoIP transport and interconnection, universally deployed by enterprises and service providers worldwide. In fact, old FCC estimates state as much as 20 percent of all US carrier-delivered voice is running on a SIP-based infrastructure. That percentage is certainly greater now, and with the introduction of VoLTE in the new mobile networks, SIP will quickly become the dominant protocol for real-time voice communications and eventually video.”

SIPNOC will focus on issues critical to the reliable and successful deployment and operation of SIP-based services in carrier networks. The agenda will feature special presentations, panel discussions and workshops covering key topics by network operators related to SIP-based services and infrastructure, including testing, application development, SIP trunking, FoIP, call routing and peering, troubleshooting and monitoring, emergency services and more.

Xius-BCGI becomes one under Xius brand

WOBURN, USA: XIUS-bcgi, a leader in delivering innovative telecom solutions for mobile operators and MVNOs worldwide, announced that as of January 11, 2011, the company will launch a single entity and brand under the name of XIUS (pronounced ZY-us). XIUS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Megasoft Ltd.

XIUS creates scalable and flexible mobile infrastructure and solutions that allow operators to deliver innovative, differentiated services. XIUS acquired bcgi in August of 2007 to round out its platform of next-generation, high value products and services for operators worldwide. With that acquisition came a breadth of mobile payment, billing and m-commerce solutions that enable operators to meet subscribers’ needs while expanding their service and solutions offerings with market demand.

“The XIUS brand re-launch demonstrates our commitment to continued focus on delivery, support and expansion of our core telecom solution offerings and customer base,” said GV Kumar, CEO of XIUS.

“In conjunction with the launch of the new brand, we are pleased to also introduce multiple Innovation Groups charged with evaluation, incubation and implementation of new solutions in the areas of Mobile Applications, Near-Field Communications and its applications in the mobile arena, Pre-Paid Roaming, Mobile Commerce, and Mobile Advertising. The Innovation Groups are in various stages of maturity today and are expected to provide the fuel for future growth of the company’s intellectual property and revenues.”

XIUS launched a new logo and tagline today to celebrate its new direction, to signal its continued support to current solutions and customers, and to share its core values of innovation and leadership in to the Telecom sector.

Lastly, XIUS also announced its plans to move its India operations to its new Research & Development Center and Technology Park in Hyderabad, India by the end of 2011.

Mobile operators must move beyond core offerings to gain share in US mobile enterprise services market

FRAMINGHAM, USA: A recently published IDC MarketScape report from International Data Corporation (IDC) offers a detailed assessment of the mobile enterprise service offerings from the three largest wireless telecommunications carriers in the United States.

The report uses the rigorous IDC MarketScape scoring methodology to produce a definitive assessment of each vendor’s current market capabilities and strategies for competing in the future.

"The US market for mobile enterprise services continues to evolve at a rapid rate with mobile operators adding new capabilities, services, and devices to their portfolios in an attempt to attract and retain the highly profitable business customer," said Carrie MacGillivray, program manager in IDC’s US Mobile Enterprise Services group.

"To gain market share in this competitive market, mobile operators must demonstrate leadership in the areas of product and service offerings, go-to-market activities, business capabilities, and future strategy. With these points in mind, it is not surprising that the qualities that will define the market share winners of the next few years are not necessarily the ones that brought success to today's leaders."

The report, IDC MarketScape: Mobile Enterprise Services 2010 Vendor Analysis (Doc #225770), examines the mobile enterprise service offerings from AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon. IDC focused only on these three operators due to their broad reach and their comprehensive approach to the enterprise, government, and small and medium business (SMB) space. In the course of the analysis, IDC evaluated how successful each mobile operator has been to date in targeting the enterprise and business segments, and how successful each is likely to be in the future with their business customer strategies.

Based on a review of each vendor's capabilities, strategies, focus areas, strengths, and weaknesses, IDC placed AT&T and Verizon in the "Leaders" category, followed by Sprint in the "Major Players" category. AT&T's placement in the leader category is attributed to its historical strength in the enterprise market, a diverse portfolio of devices, an international strategy, and an integrated sales organization, as well as building value-added business services on top of its nationwide network. Verizon is considered a leader in the U.S. mobile enterprise services market due to its broad range of enterprise solutions, a renewed focus on customer service, and its strong network reliability.

"As the US wireless market moves closer to full mobile penetration and the number of new customers levels off, the battle to attract and retain the higher revenue producing business customers will become more heated," added MacGillivray.

"To be successful in the enterprise mobility space, there are a number of imperatives that all operators must consider. In addition to offering an array of devices and services that are integrated, customized, industry-specific, and competitively priced, operators must tend to the basics, such as network performance and customer service, all while seeking to exploit emerging opportunities for future growth."

In Motion Technology makes 4G mobile broadband a reality for mission critical fleets

VANCOUVER, CANADA: In Motion Technology announced that the onBoard Mobile Gateway has been certified to provide mission critical fleets reliable, secure access to Clearwire’s 4G network in dozens of cities nationwide.

Now police, medics, utility workers and other personnel in the field can access multiple high-bandwidth applications, including video, voice, and telemedicine technologies over Clearwire’s 4G network, and seamlessly switch to 3G and other networks outside of the 4G footprint.

“The ability of first responders and other fleet operators to access true 4G mobile broadband connectivity while performing their daily work is another key advancement made possible by the Clearwire 4G network,” said Jim Ryder, senior VP of Sales for Clearwire. “Clearwire and In Motion Technology unite one of the nation’s fastest wireless networks with the most reliable, secure mobile hotspot technology to ensure connectivity for the nation’s most demanding organizations.”

Engineered for the demands of mission critical organizations, the Gateway is used today in more than 275 first responder, utility and transit fleets. The Gateway is ruggedized to withstand the rigors of the mobile environment, and incorporates the latest firewall, VPN, and wireless encryption technology.

At the heart of the Gateway is In Motion’s patented mobile hotspot technology that connects a variety of wired and wireless communications devices in and around vehicles. Communications from these devices can roam seamlessly across up to 6 networks. This allows organizations to use Clearwire’s 4G network where it is available, and switch to other networks outside of 4G range.

GCT Semiconductor’s WiMAX single-chip, GDM7205, powers the PCIe minicard embedded inside the Gateway. “The FCC-certified PCIe minicard driven by GCT has gone through rigorous testing to become fully certified by Clearwire, meeting all their technical requirements,” said Dr. Kyeongho “KH” Lee, President and CEO of GCT Semiconductor, Inc. “We are looking forward to working closely with Clearwire and In Motion Technology to provide new solutions for this critical market.”

“4G networks allow mobile organizations to deploy applications and devices that until recently could only be used at the office,” said Tony Morris, In Motion Technology’s VP of Sales and Marketing. “Today’s announcement is part of our ongoing commitment to allow our customers to use the most advanced wireless technology available today, and easily transition to whatever comes next.”