UWB-enabled devices to hit 400M by 2011

The ultra-wideband silicon market began to take off in 2007, despite regulatory hurdles that persist worldwide, according to In-Stat.
The firm noted the first UWB-enabled notebook computers shipped this year from several major manufacturers. PC peripherals are expected to hit the market next year, said In-stat. Consumer electronics and communications applications aren’t expected to debut until 2010.
“The primary question for UWB now is: Will other product segments follow where PCs lead?” said Brian O’Rourke, In-Stat analyst. “UWB is a very flexible technology in that it supports multiple standards, including [wireless USB], Bluetooth 3.0, IP over UWB, and video over UWB. This should enable the technology to gain design wins in a wide range of product segments, including PC peripherals, consumer electronics, and mobile phones.”
In-stat predicts more than 400 million UWB-enabled devices will ship in 2011.