Netbooks Will Drive Future Uptake of Mobile Broadband Services, Pyramid Research Finds
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 22 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Increased sales of netbooks over the next three to five years will result in higher demand for mobile
broadband services, driven by the emerging trend of bundling the low-end computers with mobile data
services from specific network operators, according to the latest report by Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com),
Mobile Broadband for the Masses: The Case for Bundled Netbooks analyzes the business case behind
bundling netbooks with broadband access for both operators and OEMs, discusses key performance
indicators delivered by those operators that have embraced the use of netbooks, and assesses the value they
have been able to extract from netbook sales. This 54-page report looks at the early examples of netbook
bundles targeting students and examines the potential for netbook bundle sales in the markets of Brazil,
Russia, India, and China. Download an excerpt of this report here:
Netbooks are just beginning to gain market traction; about 13 million were sold worldwide in 2008, with 10
million of those sales coming in the second half of the year, global economic crisis notwithstanding, notes
Cristiano Laux, Manager of Consulting at Pyramid Research and coauthor of the report. “Bundles of these
machines with Internet access are set to become a bread-and-butter offering for operators in developed and
emerging markets alike, exceeding sales of notebook computers in the operator channel by 2010,” says Laux.
While many operators are already supporting the business case for netbook bundles, OEMs are not happy
about the downward pressure on laptop prices and the cannibalization that netbooks may have on the sales of
high-end notebooks. “For now, they have agreed to live with the threat, fearing that without netbooks, the
recession would hit computer sales even more than it has done already,” Laux says.
Pyramid recommends that OEMs and broadband operators do what they can to support netbook sales.
“There is growing evidence that netbooks are catching on with the under-21 crowd; if that trend develops, the
adoption rate for netbooks could accelerate even more, which means these cheap and approachable devices
could have a huge impact on how network operators make money off their services,” explains Laux. Netbooks
will also help accelerate mobile broadband adoption among low-income customers and in emerging markets.
“In the lower-income countries of Asia/Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America,
most of the incremental impact from netbook sales will be seen only when the price of mobile PCs declines
below $350, but this is expected to happen in late 2009, with mass-market shipments picking up during 2010,”
he says.
Mobile Broadband for the Masses: The Case for Bundled Netbooks is part of Pyramid's research report
series. A blend of primary research and qualitative analysis, Pyramid's research reports offer comprehensive
coverage of the fixed and mobile communications space and enable those in the communications industry to
stay ahead of changing market dynamics.
Download an excerpt of this report here:
Mobile Broadband for the Masses: The Case for Bundled Netbooks is priced at $2490 and can be
purchased online here:
through Dave Williams via email at dave.williams@pyr.com or telephone at +1 858-485-8870.
About Pyramid Research
Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com) offers practical solutions to the complex demands our clients face in the
telecommunications, media and technology industries. Our analysis is uniquely positioned at the intersection
of emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models, powered by the bottom-up
methodology of our market forecasts for over 100 countries–a distinction that has remained unmatched for
more than 25 years. As the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network, Pyramid
Research works with Heavy Reading, providing the communications industry's most comprehensive market
data, trusted research and insightful technology analysis.
About Light Reading
Founded in 2000, Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) is the leading online media, research, and focused
event company serving the $3 trillion worldwide communications market. Lightreading.com is the ultimate
source for technology and financial analysis of the communications industry, leading the media sector in terms
of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading's research arms, Heavy Reading and Pyramid Research,
provide the most comprehensive communications research, market data, and technology analysis in close to
100 markets around the world. Light Reading produces nearly 20 targeted communications events including
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as well as focused one-day events tailored for cable, mobile, and wireline executives. Light Reading was
acquired by United Business Media in August 2005 and operates as a unit of TechWeb.
About TechWeb
business focused on serving the needs of technology decision-makers and marketers worldwide. TechWeb
produces the most respected and consumed media brands in the business technology market. Today, more
than 13.3 million* business technology professionals actively engage in our communities created around our
global face-to-face events, Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat, and VoiceCon; online resources such as the
TechWeb Network, Light Reading, Intelligent Enterprise, InformationWeek.com, bMighty.com, and The
Financial Technology Network; and the market leading, award-winning InformationWeek, TechNet Magazine,
MSDN Magazine, and Wall Street & Technology magazines. TechWeb also provides end-to-end services
including next-generation performance marketing, integrated media, research, and analyst services. TechWeb
is a division of United Business Media, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information
services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.
*13.3 million business decision-makers: based on number of monthly connections
About United Business Media Limited
UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and
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Press contact:
Jennifer Baker
+1 617 871-1910
jbaker@pyr.com
SOURCE: Pyramid Research
CONTACT: Jennifer Baker of Pyramid Research,
+1-617-871-1910,
jbaker@pyr.com
(UBM.L)
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