While consumer electronics today rely largely on physical media and on broadcast delivery of entertainment content, a new study from ABI Research finds the market in the midst of a major shift to a greater reliance on network-based delivery. Wi-Fi networking is expected to become a key enabler for delivery and redistribution of this content in the home, particularly for retail consumer electronics hardware.

In its new study, Wi-Fi in Consumer Electronics, ABI Research forecasts that the total number of Wi-Fi-enabled consumer electronics devices will grow from just 40 million shipped in 2006 to nearly 249 million in 2011.

“From the enormous interest in online gaming to the rapid emergence of new Internet distribution channels for top-tier movie and TV content, the need for connectivity in mainstream consumer electronics is growing rapidly,” said research director Michael Wolf. “While the consumer Wi-Fi market has previously consisted largely of routers, gateways and adapters, ABI Research believes that as the market evolves toward digital distribution, its growth will be fueled by the inclusion of embedded Wi-Fi in consumer electronics.”

Portable gaming consoles lead the market today, as both Nintendo and Sony have equipped their latest-generation devices with Wi-Fi for multiplayer and online gaming. The new Zune from Microsoft signals the beginning of a large scale movement toward embedded Wi-Fi in portable media players, while camera vendors such as Nikon, Kodak and Canon have all embraced Wi-Fi in their products. Line-powered devices such as gaming consoles, DVD players and audio receivers are all expected to see high attach rates for Wi-Fi during the forecast period.

Senior analyst Philip Solis added, “The development of a market for Wi-Fi-enabled consumer electronics has been hampered by technology limitations such as power consumption, but it has also been delayed by consumer electronics vendors’ hesitation as they waited to see what would happen with 802.11n. With the 802.11n standard set to be ratified in a little over a year, the Wi-Fi Alliance’s decision to certify solutions based on a draft 2.0 for 802.11n, and vendors’ intentions to release products based on the current Wi-Fi protocols, this market is set for growth.”