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The Wi-Fi industry is doing fine, report says

Wi-Fi chipsets are on high demand despite the downturn of the economy.

Dong Ngo SF Labs Manager, Editor / Reviews
CNET editor Dong Ngo has been involved with technology since 2000, starting with testing gadgets and writing code for CNET Labs' benchmarks. He now manages CNET San Francisco Labs, reviews 3D printers, networking/storage devices, and also writes about other topics from online security to new gadgets and how technology impacts the life of people around the world.
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Dong Ngo
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The Wi-Fi interface of Apple's iPhone. Dong Ngo/CBS Interactive

Despite the economic downturn, the Wi-Fi section of the high-tech industry has been doing well.

According to In-Stat and Wi-Fi Alliance, the groups that certify wireless networking devices to ensure their interoperability, Wi-Fi chipsets were sold in a total of 387 million units in 2008, a 26 percent increase from 2007.

This was thanks to the demand by both consumers and businesses for a wide range of Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Almost all new mobile computers now have build-in Wi-Fi and so do most smartphones. The Wi-Fi implementation has branched out to other devices too, such as game consoles or media players. By now, it's clear that Wi-Fi has become an essential technology.

However, the increase of Wi-Fi chipset sales varies by category:

  • Cellular Wi-Fi phones: 56 million units shipped (up 52 percent)
  • Stationary consumer electronic devices (gaming consoles, digital televisions, set-top boxes, printers): 48 million units shipped (up 51 percent)
  • Portable consumer electronic devices (handheld games, cameras, portable music players): 71 million units shipped (up 33 percent)
  • Notebook PCs, mini notebooks, ultramobile devices, mobile Internet devices: 144 million units shipped (up 23 percent)

The companies predict that in 2009 the demand for Wi-Fi chipsets will continue to rise in cellular Wi-Fi handsets, portable consumer electronics, home networking, and mobile PCs. Like notebooks, all handheld gaming devices ship in 2009 will have Wi-Fi.

Last year also marks the proliferation of the 802.11n or Draft N wireless networking chipset. So far Wi-Fi Alliance has certified more than 500 consumer products for advanced Wi-Fi performance. More than half of the mobile computers shipped in 2008 support this advanced generation of Wi-Fi.