Shipments of GPS-enabled handsets are expected to reach 560 million units in 2012 after expected growth of 26 percent each year, according to a report released by Berg Insight.
That’s good news for the many O.C. companies that supply GPS-enabled cell phone chips, build mobile applications that use the technology and sell GPS navigation devices, like the Intellinav All in One (pictured at right) from Irvine company Netropa.
The report forecasts increasing demand for applications that operate on finding information specific to a user’s current location — such as nearby hotels, restaurants and movie theaters.
“The availability of accurate position data in mobile devices creates exciting new opportunities for developers of local search, navigation and social networking applications,” said André Malm, a telecom analyst with Berg Insight.
Other recent data related to GPS and mobile devices:
- Mobile device mapping is expected to drive the GPS chip market, according to In-Stat. Currently, the two largest mobile device market segments for GPS chips are cellular handsets and personal navigation devices. Sales of mobile devices with integrated GPS are expected to grow from 180 million units in 2007 to 720 million units in 2011.
- Demand for mobile navigation is expected to continue growing, according to IDC. Four consumer navigation segments — portable navigation devices (PNDs), outdoor-fitness devices, marine devices, and in-vehicle solutions — have the potential to grow successfully over the forecast period. The PND segment represents the fastest growth category because of increased consumer demand, although it faces strong competition from mobile phone–based solutions.
- New cell phone features such as GPS and Bluetooth boost the sales of semiconductor chips, according to In-Stat. In 2007, total revenue from handset semiconductor chips will exceed $31 billion worldwide. Also, add-on semiconductors, like Bluetooth and GPS, are growing at a faster rate than core handset components.
