12 September 2008

Holiday Buying Will Indicate High-Def Wireless TV Prospects

Holiday season buying will be one of the first indicators of wireless high-definition TV’s early market prospects, according to an industry report.

Holiday sales of existing products and new product announcements at CES, a major industry expo in the new year, will give an indication as to which of several competing systems, if any, are likely to tempt consumers towards the acceptance of HDTV, according to market research company ABI Research.

At present ABI Research categorizes three main contenders - 5 GHz, 60 GHz, and ultra-wideband (UWB). Small numbers of 5 GHz and UWB devices are currently shipping; demo products of 60 GHz systems are expected early next year. “Over the next two to three years, we’re going to see one or two of these wireless HDTV approaches emerge as the primary ones,” explained ABI Research principal analyst Steve Wilson.

“Announcements at CES of systems using the 60 GHz band will give some indication of whether consumer products will actually make it to market in 2009. The coming year will be a very important period for the introduction of all types of new wireless high-definition TV products,” concluded Wilson.