According to researcher In-Stat, shipments of consumer electronics devices embedded with Wi-Fi could reach nearly 1 billion by 2012. More than 294 million devices with Wi-Fi shipped last year, says In-Stat.

By 2011, cellular/Wi-Fi handsets will surpass mobile PCs as the largest category of Wi-Fi devices, predicts the firm. Digital TVs equipped with Wi-Fi will also be big. The finalization of IEEE 802.11n in late 2009 will remedy the technical issues associated with 802.11b/g, which limited the integration of Wi-Fi into devices like video, predicts the researcher.

In-Stat found the following:

• More than 294 million Consumer Electronic devices were shipped with Wi-Fi in 2007
• Compound annual growth rate for CE Wi-Fi devices through 2012 will be 26%
• By 2011, cellular/Wi-Fi handsets will surpass mobile PCs as the large category of Wi-Fi devices.

Posted by Sam Churchill on Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 at 11:17 am.