Forward Concepts has published a new in-depth study of the WLAN and WLAN equipment and chip markets. The report, "Beyond Wi-Fi: 802.11n, VoWi-Fi & WiMAX," provides a comprehensive analysis of worldwide equipment and chip markets. The report also profiles the ODMs, OEMs and chip vendors serving these markets.

The author of the report, Carter L. Horney, pointed out, "The growing WLAN market is a classic example of how a market can continue to expand as costs and prices ride down the learning curve, opening up new applications and market opportunities. Specifically, in spite of a predicted 23% average selling price drop, worldwide shipments of WLAN equipment products will increase 6% to the $5.2 billion level in 2005." The report also predicts that WLAN equipment will continue growing at a higher rate in 2006 to the $5.9 billion level as new IEEE 802.11n and VoWi-Fi equipment is introduced and the infrastructure for traditional Wi-Fi expands.

In the report, the WiMAX and pre-WiMAX equipment market (including both 802.16d and 802.16e) is forecast to grow from $72 million in 2005 to slightly more than $2 billion in 2009, for an annual compound growth rate of 130%. Horney went on to say, "We view WiMAX as complementary to both Wi-Fi and 3G cellular. Fixed 802.16d systems can provide backbones for Wi-Fi hotspots where DSL or cable is unavailable or impractical. When emerging 802.16e provides a mobility WiMAX capability, it will augment the Wi-Fi infrastructure that will remain dominant for several years."

Pure WiMAX chipsets, beginning with 802.16d-compliant fixed-operation units, are beginning to ship in 2005 for estimated revenues of $5.4 million. However, mobility-capable 802.16e chipsets will begin sampling next year, and the combined chip market is forecast to grow at a 209% compound annual growth rate to $489 million in 2009.

In addition, the report discusses many new markets enabled by WLAN technology, including VoWi-Fi phones and the growth of converged WLAN/cellphones and Home Multimedia TV Networks. It also forecasts the embedded WLAN markets for those applications, along with Notebooks, PDAs, security cameras and more.