Global shipments of IPTV set-top boxes are expected to grow to 28.7 million units in 2010, a nearly 50 percent increase over 2009 and far more than the 6.7 percent increase projected for legacy STBs for cable, satellite and terrestrial boxes, according to statistics compiled by iSuppli.
More than 60 vendors claim to build IPTV set-tops--although only 15 really have a measurable share--in a highly fragmented market that is unlike cable television where two vendors--Cisco and Motorola--dominate. Both of those vendors are in the IPTV business, however, with Motorola holding a 32 percent market share followed by Cisco at 14 percent.
IPTV is also the cleanest route for Microsoft to follow to get into the TV business. The software maker has tried for years to get a foothold in TV and now is considered the leader in providing software with 25 percent of the market using its Mediaroom middleware. That's three times the share of closest rival Thomson SA's SmartVision software.
For more:
- see this story
- and this FierceIPTV coverage
- and this story
Related articles:
IPTV still a world of uncertainty, opportunity
iSuppli: STB shipments increasing
In-Stat also saw the STB market lifting
ABI last year liked the outlook for IP STBs