Mobile Phone Sensors and Sensory Interfaces: Market Analysis and Forecasts

A variety of hardware sensors are gaining traction in the mobile phone market, and these components will support the development of breakthrough applications and user interface experiences. This report studies eight sensor and sensory interface components which are rapidly becoming part of the handset architecture:

• Accelerometers
• Biometric sensors (fingerprint readers)
• Magnetometers (digital compasses)
• GPS chips
• Gyroscopes
• Haptics
• Pico projectors
• Pressure sensors

The study examines the technology behind these sensors, the factors driving their incorporation into the handset, the vendor landscape and the market opportunity. ARCchart concludes that the market for these handset components will grow substantially over the coming five years. Our forecast predicts that the combined shipments of these components will grow from 653 million units in 2009 to 4 billion by 2014. In terms of market value, we estimate that the revenue generated from the sale of these hardware sensors and sensory interfaces will more than triple by 2014, reaching $3.6 billion.

Topics of coverage include:

• Sensors - accelerometers, biometric, gps, gyroscopes, magnetometers, pressure sensors
• Sensory interfaces - haptics and pico projectors
• Sensor component market dynamics
• Key applications - augmented reality, gaming and navigation
• Market size and forecasts
• Vendor profiles
• Opportunities for mobile industry stakeholders
• Multi-sensor semiconductor combination
• Sensor usage in mobile applications
• Sensor penetration in smartphones and non-smartphones
• Industry recommendations