Nearly One Billion Bluetooth-enabled Devices to Ship in Asia in 2013

摘要

While Bluetooth has been in the market for almost a decade, it has not proliferated widely in Asia. In terms of consumer awareness, this region still lags behind others. However, the picture is changing, especially when it comes to cellular handsets, and a new study from ABI Research indicates that Bluetooth-enabled equipment shipments in Asia will reach 982 million units in 2013, representing a compound annual growth of 30 percent over 2006 shipments. "One of the biggest barriers for consumers is cost," says senior analyst Andy Bae. "Consumers in Asia believe that the Bluetooth headset is comparatively expensive; they also seem to underestimate its voice quality." Bluetooth has achieved its greatest penetration to date in mobile handsets, as mobile operators have demanded continuous support from manufacturers. In South Korea, the penetration rate in mobile phones reached 51 percent in 2007. Bae adds, "Streaming music services over mobile networks, such as Japans Chaku Uta, will be key drivers of Bluetooth inclusion in cellular handsets."