IDC, a technology media, research and events company predicts that the portable audio player market will continue to grow from 26.4 million units shipped worldwide in 2004 to nearly 124 million units in 2009.

“Demand for portable MP3 players is booming, as more and more consumers get acquainted with their stylish form factors and digital audio functionality,” said Susan Kevorkian, program manager, Consumer Markets: Audio at IDC. “In addition, DVD players, mobile phones and gaming devices that play back compressed audio will be key drivers of the compressed audio player market during the forecast period.”

Other key forecast findings:

• Maximum portable flash player capacity is expected to increase from 1GB in 2004 to 8GB in 2006 and 16GB by late 2007.
• Video support for music video playback will drive demand for portable flash player and hard drive-based portable jukeboxes.
• The market for hard drive-based portable jukeboxes is expected to grow at a worldwide compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.5% during the forecast period.
• Worldwide total units and revenue for four segments of the compressed audio player market are expected to reach 945.5 million and $145.4 billion respectively by 2009.

Consumption of multimedia for portable device is going to rise. This trend also will affect how end-users accustom to time-shifting, consume news and information while on the move without dependency on time and place. Podcasting fits perfectly into the mold.

Source: IDC Forecast.
See also: podcast statistics.

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