By Telecom Lead Team: Tablet computers will continue to see strong growth in
2012 with a projected 37.6 million units being shipped, an increase of 28
percent, resulting in $18.3 billion in revenue, according to the latest
semi-annual industry forecast from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).
CEA released the forecast at the 2012 International CES,
the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow.
The forecast says that smartphones will continue to be
the primary revenue driver for the industry. Smartphone unit sales will
increase 24 percent in 2012 with 108.8 million units projected to ship,
resulting in $33.7 billion in revenue.
Laptop sales continue to rise as unit sales will increase
to 23.5 million units accounting for $15.2 billion in revenue in 2012.
Sales of mobile connected devices continue to drive the
overall industry to historic highs. A raft of innovative products hit the
market late in 2011, and, as we’re seeing here at the 2012 International CES,
many more devices will be introduced in the months ahead,” said Steve Koenig,
CEA’s director of industry analysis.
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) also estimates
that the consumer electronics (CE) industry will surpass $200 billion in
overall revenues in the U.S. for the first time in 2012.
Total domestic industry shipment revenues continue to
grow and are projected to surpass $202 billion in 2012, an all-time high for
the industry.
The industry will grow 3.7 percent in 2012, after
reaching an estimated $195.2 billion in revenues in 2011. The CE industry is
projected to grow nearly twice as fast in 2012 than the forecasted U.S. GDP
growth of two percent.
Last year,
CEA estimated the industry to surpass $190 billion in overall shipment revenues
with a growth rate of 5.6 percent.
Technology and innovation continue to play a vital role
in our nation’s economic comeback, and it is crucial that innovation be
protected and promoted,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CEA.
With household penetration rates of HDTVs near 70
percent, display revenues are projected to drop to $17.2 billion in 2012. Sales
of TV sets with 3D functionality will increase 101 percent in 2012 to more than
6.2 million units. 3DTV revenues will reach $7.5 billion, an increase of 68
percent.
Internet-connected displays will also see steady growth
in 2012, with unit sales of nine million, an increase of 52 percent. Revenues
of Internet-connected displays will reach $7.7 billion, an increase of 27
percent, says annual industry forecast.
