Scottsdale, Ariz. – Worldwide shipments of PDAs grew 17 percent in 2001 despite the weak global economy and diminishing consumer confidence in the US, according to a new report from Cahners In-Stat/MDR.
Total PDA shipments reached 8 million units for the year and are expected to climb another 18% in 2002 driven by a wave of new wireless products. The year 2001 and 2002 growth, however, represents slower growth than in previous years, said Cahners.
‘The future will be all about making the PDA a more ubiquitous device and more useful to both the mobile business user and the on-the-go consumer,’ said Neil Strother, senior wireless handset analyst. He also predicts wider use of Bluetooth and other short-range wireless technologies for this year.
Cahners further predicts continued double-digit growth in PDAs through 2005, most likely peaking in 2004 at 30 percent, and then tapering off in 2005 as the market matures.