They began with a relatively modest start, with 10 million units in 2008. But shipments of ultra-mobile devices (UMDs) like notebooks and mobile Internet devices (MIDs) will exceed 200 million in 2013, according to ABI Research.

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“The UMD market will be small compared to the wireless handset market, but with a forecast revenue of nearly $27 billion in 2013, it will certainly be significant,” said Philip Solis, ABI Research principal analyst.

Notebooks account for about 90% of today’s UMD market. However, they will fall to a distant second as MID shipments will surge ahead to take 68% of the market, with ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs) remaining a niche category. The 200 million estimate for 2013 is about the anticipated size of the worldwide laptop PC market.

“As this market enters its rapid growth phase and starts to evolve, we will see considerable experimentation with different distribution channels,” said Solis. “Some will sell direct from the manufacturer, some via retail outfits, and some through mobile operators who will subsidize them to encourage new data plan subscriptions.”

A new study from ABI Research, “Mobile Internet Devices and UMPCs,” analyzes the drivers and barriers for UMDs across the ecosystem, as well as the issues that will shape this market, including the contest between x86-based processors and ARM-based processors, distribution and subsidization, device definitions, and the effect of cellular voice-enabled MIDs. It also includes detailed, segmented market forecasts through 2013. For more, contact the company.

• ABI Research
  www.abiresearch.com