Mobility turns PC industry upside down

The demand for increased mobility, combined with evolving technologies such as wireless networking, are reinvigorating the PC industry in mature and emerging markets, according to analysts.

In-Stat published a report today revealing that mobile PC growth in 2004 topped 25 per cent, outpacing all other computing segments. The study noted that changing usage models are having a profound impact on the computer and semiconductor industries.

"The changing market dynamics are driving a divide in the desktop market towards either low-cost solutions or high-end, high-performance computing solutions," said Jim McGregor, an analyst with the high-tech market research firm.

"Simultaneously, the mobile PC is set for a new revolution in design targeting changing user requirements."

The In-Stat study also found that changes in the PC market will affect the underlying semiconductor market by driving the need for more integrated and specialised technologies to a broadening target market.

The flexibility and functionality of PCs will continue to increase, but the PC will not become the digital communication nexus to the home, according to In-Stat.

The analyst firm does, however, predict that future PC designs will allow users more functionality and flexibility, especially in the home. This trend is expected to result in the mobile PC market accounting for close to half of annual sales by the end of this decade.