Smartphone and tablet revenues exceed consumer electronics sales
In a stark representation of their growing importance, global factory revenue for smartphones and tablets in 2013 are predicted to be larger than the entire consumer electronics market. According to researcher IHS, this is the first time this has occurred.
The traditional consumer electronics market, it says, consists of devices such as tvs, set top boxes, digital still cameras, video game consoles and Blu-ray players. Consumers, it contends, are increasingly purchasing wireless devices and using them instead.
This is the third year in a row in which consumer electronics revenues have declined, says IHS, adding the market is expected to fall back by a further 2% in 2014 to $250billion.
"While exciting new technologies are being shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, it will take a few years until these products attain enough of a volume to drive the growth of the market," said Jordan Selburn, IHS' senior principal analyst, consumer devices. "Until these products enter the mainstream, traditional revenue will continue to dwindle."
pic: courtesy Sky
