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Over 8 Billion Connected Devices Globally at the End of Last Year, IHS Says

Number of Connected Audio-Visual Devices Globally (Graphic: Business Wire)

As of year-end 2015, the world contained 8.1 billion connected smartphones, tablets, personal computers, TVs, TV-attached devices and audio devices, according to IHS's findings from its Connected Device Market Monitor report. The report examines key trends and data for global devices, over the top (OTT) and pay TV multiscreen markets.

On average, across the globe, this device base equates to an astounding four devices per household, said IHS.

According to Merrick Kingston, principal analyst of Connected Home at IHS Technology, the proliferation of media-enabled connected endpoints has implications for media consumption, media production, broadband infrastructure, and businesses in terms of network network management and traffic discrimination. “It drives media consumption, IP traffic and more,” he said.

According to IHS, smartphones outnumber tablets by five to one. Year-on-year, smartphones contribute roughly half a billion new devices to the market; tablet and OTT set-tops are also growing quickly, but operate a full order of magnitude(10 times less) below the smartphone. By 2020, this ratio will only widen. Within the forecast period, the smartphone-to-tablet ratio rose to nearly 10:1.

The latest IHS Technology report also noted the big changes in the wider-connected, media-enabled hardware ecosystem. For all its early momentum, Chromecast had been unable to out-ship the Apple TV. This finally changed during the first quarter of 2016 with Apple TV shipping 1.7 million units compared to Google pushing 3.2 million Chromecasts to market. “We anticipate that this reversal will persist,” Kingston said. “Since the introduction of the fourth-generation Apple TV, Apple and Google have pursued vastly different strategies.”

Author

Ray is a news editor at The Fast Mode, bringing with him more than 10 years of experience in the wireless industry.

For tips and feedback, email Ray at ray.sharma(at)thefastmode.com, or reach him on LinkedIn @raysharma10, Facebook @1RaySharma

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