Near-Field Communication Enablement will Come Out of the Trial Phase in 2013
LONDON—Nov. 21, 2012—ABI Research forecasts that a total of 1.95 billion NFC-enabled devices, a combination of both mobile phone handsets and consumer electronic (CE) devices will have shipped by 2017. The lion’s share of NFC (near-field communication) enablement will continue to happen in the handset market, although a surge in NFC functionality is expected within CE devices.
In total, 395 million CE devices are expected to be shipped in 2017, with sales dominated by media tablets, PC accessories and gaming consoles. NFC inclusion into devices other than handsets shows market development and an understanding that NFC support will be about more than making payments.
Added value will be provided through the enablement of convenient online/offline authentication, retail and loyalty applications, reader functionality, and advertising. Service providers will be presented with a host of value-added opportunities from which they can draw new revenue streams.
The increase in the potential user base is making investment into NFC applications more justifiable. Next year, ABI Research expects to see NFC come out of its “trial phase.” Android and Windows Phone 8 are already pushing the handset market forward and now building out into other ecosystem devices with inclusion into Android tablets and Windows PCs.
Research analyst Phil Sealy comments, “2012 is the first time that ABI Research has raised forecasts for NFC-enabled handsets, up from 80 million units to 102 million for year-end 2012. Nine out of the top 10 OEMs now have NFC-enabled handsets commercially available, with most housing an embedded, secure-element solution. We expect handset shipments to more than double next year, with NFC inclusion likely to become a default technology integrated into flagship handsets.”
ABI expects 285 million NFC-enabled devices to be shipped in 2013.
About ABI
ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 70+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990.
Source: ABI.
