ABI Research predicts 184mn digital media adaptors to ship by 2012

August 20, 2007 – The installed base of digital media adaptors (DMAs), either freestanding or embedded devices designed to allow users to route audiovisual content to their TVs and stereo systems, is expected to reach around 184mn by 2012, according to a new report from ABI Research.

The report, entitled “Digital Video Adaptors in the Living Room”, also predicts that only 11% of these will be standalone devices, with 85% expected to be embedded in games consoles.  “Games consoles increasingly include DMA functionality, helping to grow the market,” stated principal analyst Steve Wilson.

 “The manufacturers are aiming to make their consoles more like ‘media center’ devices, rather than being just for gaming.  The advantage they have is market share: their products ship in large volumes.  The big question is whether gamers will actually make use of this added functionality built into their consoles.”

DMAs are also being embedded into other types of devices, according to the report, although in lower numbers.  These include TVs, set-top boxes and DVD players.  “People want fewer ‘boxes’ in their homes, not more,” said Wilson, “so the opportunity is there for consumer electronics manufacturers to embed this technology; although so far it is largely the computer network manufacturers who are embracing the concept, rather than CE vendors.”

ABI Research also forecasts that when Microsoft Media Center Extender (MCX) 2.0 technology enters the market this autumn, there will be another surge in interest in products of the same type.