Bluetooth Technology Pushes Sales of Mobile Computer/Device Accessories

(Top News, 31 Jul 2007)

After a slow start, Bluetooth technology has finally matured to become the most widely accepted short-range wireless connectivity technology in the mobile device market. According to VDC's "Mobile Device Accessories: Global Market Demand Analysis", Bluetooth technology is one of the most aggressive catalysts for mobile accessory sales.

Why is Bluetooth important for mobile accessories?
As mobile applications are increasing in number and complexity, accessories are becoming more vital to improving the functionality of smaller mobile devices. As a result, mobile accessory sales are increasing and end users are learning how to better accessorize their devices. However, the physical confines of the cord plus the burden of constant wire tangles and cable failure hamper solution performance and decrease the overall customer satisfaction with mobile accessories. As a cable replacement and short-range communications solution, Bluetooth significantly enhances the experience end users have with their mobile devices.


SOURCE: VDC

VDC estimates the current Bluetooth mobile accessory market at $1,568.2 million, with the opportunity to grow to $6,357 million. By far the best-selling Bluetooth accessory is the headset, which currently accounts for 89 percent of Bluetooth accessory sales. Since the start of government bans against the use of mobile phones while driving, vendors have attempted a variety of hands-free solutions with no single standard rising to the top. The merge of the headset with Bluetooth finally created an easy-to-use solution for talking and driving. The result is an estimated $1.4 billion market in 2006 that VDC estimates will experience a 34 percent growth rate over the next five years.

With such a huge potential for growth, it seems that the largest obstacle holding Bluetooth accessories back is mobile device manufacturers' conservative integration of the technology. Since mobile phone vendors have only recently integrated Bluetooth as a standard and notebook vendors continue to offer Bluetooth as only an option, the majority of mobile devices currently used do not possess integrated Bluetooth. The fact that Bluetooth accessory sales are still so high today¡ªdespite the fact that their potential market largely remains untapped¡ªhints at how big the Bluetooth accessories market could possibly grow.

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