Apple's
AirPlay is a system that streams audio, either wirelessly or over Ethernet, to third-party speaker docks, A/V receivers, speakers and more. Far from just being a way to transmit video from the iPad to the AppleTV, as Apple CEO Steve Jobs demonstrated at its special event on September 1, AirPlay spans the entire audio industry, iSuppli said.
"AirPlay represents another effort by Apple to stake a leadership position in the burgeoning connected home market," said Jordan Selburn, principal analyst, consumer electronics, for iSuppli. "The technology leverages Apple's dominant position in the MP3/PMP player market. With AirPlay, the iPad, iPod and iPhone can be the servers for a home filled with music -- and music distribution via iTunes."
As evidenced by developments at the IFA consumer electronics show in Berlin this month, networked audio is gaining momentum, whether in complete systems like Sonos or in general-purpose equipment such as audio-video receivers supporting open standards such as DLNA. In addition to home music libraries, Internet Radio is also driving an increasing demand for audio that can be accessed seamlessly around the home.
However, the seamless part seems to be the major sticking point, the primary reason being that home audio networks have not grown to the level expected given the consumer's seemingly insatiable appetite for music.
"Addressing the seamless connection of audio is the area where AirPlay has the potential to be a truly disruptive force in the market, potentially turning it into a Top 10 consumer electronics segment with unit volumes perhaps even comparable to televisions," Selburn said.
The global television market is expected to amount to more than 230 million units in 2010, iSuppli predicts.
"Apple has worked some impressive magic for the consumer electronics market in the past," Selburn observed.
The portable audio market is one example, with the evolution from removable media, such as tape or CD-based Walkman-type products, to MP3 players, which saw growth explode when Apple introduced the iPod.
The iPod's simplicity and push-button interface to iTunes was the major factor of its success, delivering a simple and compelling end-to-end solution and consumer experience, according to iSuppli.
The home audio market could well be on the verge of a similar explosion if Apple does the same with wireless home audio networking as it did with the iPod. "This time, the consumer will be transitioning from the docking station to the next phase - the networked audio client," iSuppli said. "When consumers don't have to Google various error codes and reset firewalls in order to enjoy music libraries and Internet radio throughout the home, the networked home audio market could reach a true crescendo."
International Business Times, The Global Business News Leader
