Market research services provider In-Stat, US, has released a report, according to which e-reader shipments will grow from 12 million units by the end of this year, to 35 million in 2014. This is despite the potential impact that the tablet PC market may have on the standalone e-reader market.
According to Senior Analyst Stephanie Ethier, tablet PC shipments are taking off, fueled in particular by the Apple iPad introduction. Yet, there will still be a revenue opportunity for e-reader suppliers and OEMs since tablet PCs and e-readers target different consumers. She further notes that standalone e-readers will address the needs of avid readers, to whom the reading experience is central. Tablets are better suited for consumers who prefer a stronger multimedia experience, and only light reading.
Research by In-Stat found that e-reader price points will continue to fall over the remainder of 2010, with a $99 model likely available in time for the holiday season. Tablet unit shipments are expected to reach approximately 58 million in 2014. Among the several semiconductor devices used in e-readers, the processor ASP will be the most resilient over the forecast period, only declining 18 percent from 2009 to 2014. Further, it was found that the semiconductor TAM for e-reader suppliers will exceed $1 billion in 2011.
This research is part of In-Stat's Portable Entertainment Devices service, which provides analysis of the market for portable consumer electronics. These include e-readers, digital photo frames, portable media players, handheld games, personal navigation devices, digital radio, digital cameras and electronic toys.
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