Strong Growth Expected for NFC-Enabled Smartphones, Pyramid Finds

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- After its initial launch in 2010, NFC-enabled smartphones will contribute to 28 percent of total smartphone sales to end users (250 million units) by 2015, according to a new report from Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com).

NFC-Enabled Smartphones to Account for 28% of Global Market by 2015 discusses Pyramid's unique view on the future of NFC technology, with special emphasis on the short- and medium-term demand for NFC-enabled devices. The second part of the report provides an overview of the most recent NFC-related strategies of Google, VeriFone and Nokia.

Download an excerpt of this report here: http://www.pyramidresearch.com/downloads.htm?id=5&sc=PRN041811_INSGL3.1

Purchase the report here: http://www.pyramidresearch.com/store/ins_gl_110408.htm?sc=PRN041811_INSGL3.1

"Mobile handsets that are NFC-capable will see skyrocketing sales in 2011 and 2012," says Stela Bokun, Mobile Devices Practice Leader at Pyramid. "These sales will be driven by the overwhelming supply of NFC-enabled smartphones that will hit the market in the next two years, as well as service providers' 'push' marketing strategies across the globe," she indicates.

As the NFC ecosystem rapidly evolves, there will be an abundant supply of other NFC devices, in addition to NFC-enabled handsets. "To trigger sales, equipment vendors will have to convince their users (mostly retailers) that the benefit from NFC-based services will outweigh the cost of investment," says Bokun.

"Over the next five years, as high-impact partnerships and profitable business models emerge, NFC-based services will become ubiquitous, consistent and secure," Bokun says. "That will ultimately create sustainable demand for NFC-enabled devices, including handsets. The current abundance of business models will eventually yield a healthy NFC ecosystem, despite the initial hiccups," she notes.

The majority of demand for NFC-enabled devices will come from Asia/Pacific, Western Europe and North America. "89 percent of the total NFC-enabled handset unit sell-through will come from these three regions in 2015," indicates Bokun. The high quality and convenience of the new NFC-based services, and the emergence of a healthy NFC ecosystem, will stimulate sustainable long-term demand for NFC-enabled handsets.

To get ahead of the game, mobile operators should create partnerships with credit cards and banks immediately. "Their solutions will be the most wanted at the outset," says Bokun. Followed by aggressive campaigns convincing end users that they stand to benefit from NFC-enabled services, without end-user buy-in, all efforts will be in vain.

NFC-Enabled Smartphones to Account for 28% of Global Market by 2015 is part of Pyramid Research's Telecom Insider Report Series and is priced at $595. Download the excerpt here: http://www.pyramidresearch.com/downloads.htm?id=5&sc=PRN041811_INSGL3.1.  It can be purchased online here: http://www.pyramidresearch.com/store/ins_gl_110408.htm?sc=PRN041811_INSGL3.1.  For more information, please contact us at [email protected].

Jennifer Baker, +1-617-871-1910, [email protected]

SOURCE Pyramid Research