IDC Sees Continued Wearables Surge Among new Generations of Devices
The worldwide wearables market will reach 111.1 million shipments in 2016, from 80 million forecast for this year, as second- and third-generation devices address some "shortcomings," said IDC Thursday. By 2019, wearables shipments will reach 214.6 million units, it said.…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
The next generation will have “vastly improved experiences and perhaps even augment human abilities,” said analyst Jitesh Ubrani. Smartwatches will continue as one of the most popular wearable categories, said IDC. They've evolved from being smartphone extensions to wearable computers capable of communications, notifications and apps, said analyst Ramon Llamas. "The smartwatch we have today will look nothing like the smartwatch we will see in the future.” Cellular connectivity, health sensors, and third-party apps will raise the appeal and value of smartphones, he said. Smartwatch platforms, “the brains of the smartwatch,” will evolve as cellular connectivity in watches replaces the reliance on smartphones for connectivity, said Llamas.