Big Market for PDDs Predicted

But not as big as EO predicts

According to market forecasters, little digital devices will be in big demand by 1995. BIS, the market research firm of Norwell, Massachusetts, is predicting that by 1995 the market for personal digital devices (PDDs) will reach $370 million. By the end of the decade, the company goes on to predict, demand will top $500 million in hardware and another $150-$200 million in software.

1993 will be a pivotal year, the firm believes, with products perhaps from Apple and Sharp, Casio and Tandy, Toshiba, and Texas Instruments (EO also belongs on this list).

In part, BIS is basing its predictions on the current market. U.S. calculator sales, for instance, reached $1.6 billion in 1991, but are expected to decline in 1992. Sales of organizers and other personal productivity devices (that is, today’s limited-functionality PDDs) accounted for $207 million in sales with 1992 sales expected to grow to $228 million — a 10.5 percent annual growth rate. BIS correctly predicts that communications and connectivity will differentiate tomorrow’s devices from those on the market today.

These estimates are in sharp contrast to EO’s prediction of sales of 100 million “personal communicators” by the end of the decade with revenues of $20 billion (this estimate appears to be based on an average price of $200 per unit). BIS’s forecast seems a lot closer to the mark.

Of course, BIS is selling reports that document these prognostications in more detail. If you’re interested, contact:

BIS
One Longwater Circle
Norwell, MA 02061
617-983-9500