PRAGUE, April 17, 2015 – For the last two years, wearables have been the focus of the consumer electronics market, not only for leading vendors with vast R&D budgets, like Apple, Samsung, and Huawei, but also for high-tech newcomers, such as Pebble, Misfit, and many others, which paved their way through bright ideas and Kickstarter crowdfunding campaigns. This market segment is developing rapidly, as can be seen from the number of new models introduced every month and the booming shipments figures as reported by the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker. Vendors shipped 19.6 million units worldwide in 2014, over 800,000 of which went to Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (CEMA). This figure is expected to increase to nearly 1.5 million by the end of 2016, as the technology matures and becomes more accessible. Yet, in spite of an enviable market dynamic, the future prospects of this technology are still the topic of heated disputes. (TZ)
Even leading technology firms and respected market analysts often cannot foresee, at the earliest stages, the evolution of a new technology. In the business sphere, photocopying technology navigated a thorny path before eventually becoming a necessity in every modern office. The wearables market is waiting for a game-changing product that can shape the future of the whole industry. Reputable IT market analysts believe that the Apple Watch, due to hit the market in April 2015, has potential to lay down the rules for a new product category. If Apple can convince consumers that this new technology will become an integral part of their life, it will boost current demand, while becoming a catalyst for the development of wearable technologies in the coming years.
About IDC – International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. In 2014, IDC celebrates its 50th anniversary of providing strategic insights to help clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.