Global audit and consultancy firm Deloitte has predicted that smartglasses, fitness bands and watches could sell about 10 million units in 2014, generating a business of US $3 billion.
The forecast are part of a report – Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Predictions 2014 – by Deloitte released today.
The firm said in the report that the total global sales of smartphones, Tablets, PCs, TV sets and gaming consoles will exceed US $750 billion in 2014 and then plateau as consumer usage will continue to converge.
“Our predictions for 2014 touch on a wide variety of topics, but there is some commonality among them. This can be seen specifically with mobile devices including tablets, wearables, phablets and also rugged devices,” said Eric Openshaw, Vice-chairman, Deloitte LLP and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader, said in a press release announcing the report release. “These newer technologies allow enterprises and consumers to become more connected, while opening a wealth of new business and communication opportunities. Enterprises that can capitalize on these new market segments will be well positioned for success in 2014 and beyond.”
The TMT predictions in 2014 include:
1. Wearables: Wearable computer form factors, smart glasses should generate most revenues from sales of about four million units at an average selling price (ASP) of US $500. Smart fitness bands should sell four million units, at an ASP of$140; smart watches should sell about two million units at an ASP of US $200.
2. The Converged Living Room: Global sales of smartphones, Tablets, PCs, TV sets and videogame consoles will exceed US $750 billion in 2014, up US $50 billion from 2013 and almost double the 2010 total. However, a plateau appears likely: sales are expected to continue growing, but at a slower rate than over the past 10 years, with an estimated ceiling of about US $800 billion per year.
3. Massive Open Online Courses: Student registrations in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) will be double compared to 2012 to over 10 million courses, but the low completion rates mean that less than 0.2 percent of all courses completed in 2014 will be MOOCs. The growing awareness of Online education will force educational institutions to increase investment in this area, drive more acceptance of online education as it becomes accredited and increase adoption by corporate training groups.
4. eVisits: the 21st century housecall — There will be 100 million eVisits globally, potentially saving over US $5 billion when compared to the cost of in-person doctor visits and representing growth of 400 percent from 2012 levels.
5. Phablets: Shipments of phablets, smartphones with 5.0-6.9 inch screens, will represent a quarter of smartphones sold, or 300 million units. That is double the 2013 volume, and 10 times 2012 sales. But after initial rapid consumer success, 2014 may mark a ‘peak phablet’ year, as only a (sizeable) minority of smartphones users will want to handle such a large device.
6. Rugged devices at $250: The entry price for a ruggedized, connected data device that can be used by some field force workers, as well as to undertake tasks such as car rental check-in inspections, inspecting highways or delivering packages, will fall to US $250.
Image Credit: Deloitte
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