Home is Where the Networks Are
In-Stat expects the home networking equipment market to more than double to $20-billion by 2009 from $9-billion in 2004, driven by the growing interest among consumers in connecting digital audio and video files to stereos, TVs and other entertainment equipment. In 2004, the number of homes with a network jumped to 37 million from 24 million in 2003 as connectivity speeds increased and prices dropped. For equipment makers such as Netgear, Cisco (Linksys) and D-Link, there are a couple ways to read In-Stat's research. One, it's time to break out the champagne because the market is about to explode. Or two, there are tough times ahead because the focus will be on controlling costs to deal with intense competition. Speaking of Netgear, I've heard great things about its Range Max Wireless Router.
