Analysts expect the global Wi-Fi phone market to enjoy a robust growth in 2006. Figures from Infonetics Research indicate that the Wi-Fi telephony industry earned $125.5 million in 2005, twice the volume in 2004. The analyst firm's forecast shows that the numbers will more than double this year and may nearly triple by 2009, when the market will gain revenues worth $3.7 billion. Infonetics ascribed the potential growth to the popularity of dual-mode Wi-Fi/cellular handsets, whose price is expected to drop below $100 in the future. Although the data reveal that sales from Europe, the Middle East and Africa constitute only 22 percent of the dual-mode Wi-Fi/mobile handset revenues last year -- Asia Pacific accounts for nearly half of the total sales -- Infonetics believes the bloc will represent a bigger share by 2009.
Via [vnunet.com]