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The universal serial bus (USB) saw continued success in 2006, but 2007 is going to be a milestone as wireless USB (WUSB) products are expected to hit the market around mid-year, reported In-Stat. The initial WUSB products will be dongle and hub solutions that will allow PCs to wirelessly connect to PC peripherals and CE devices.

Integrated solutions with Certified WUSB capability inside the box will come in a few devices before the end of 2007, including PCs, printers, multifunction peripherals (MFPs) and digital still cameras.

“Certified WUSB is designed to replace USB cables on the PC desktop, as well as to facilitate temporary connections between mobile and fixed devices, such as portable digital audio players and PCs, or digital still cameras and printers,” said Brian O’Rourke, In-Stat analyst.

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

- More than two billion USB-enabled devices shipped worldwide in 2006.
- Annual shipment growth through 2011 will be 12.3%.
- In the communications market segment, full-speed USB has emerged as a popular option in mobile phones.

The research, “USB 2007: Wireless Finally Arrives”covers the market for the universal serial bus (USB) in five mass-market segments: PCs, PC peripherals, consumer electronics, communications, and automotive. It provides worldwide forecasts for USB-enabled device unit sales by product category through 2011. It also includes profiles of USB silicon and IP providers.