90% of smartphones will have Wi-Fi by 2014

In the next few years it will be difficult to buy a new smartphone that does not have built-in Wi-Fi for speedy Net access, according to a report that ABI Research and the Wi-Fi Alliance published last week.

Today, about half the smartphones sold have Wi-Fi. By 2014, the forecast goes, about 90 percent of smartphones will offer access to Wi-Fi.

The big driver for Wi-Fi is bandwidth-intensive multimedia applications, such as graphically intense games and streaming video. The Apple iPhone was among the first devices to show the true benefit of having Wi-Fi.

Even as carriers roll out 4G wireless networks, Wi-Fi will still have a place because it can offer fast Internet access at a relatively low cost for many devices.

While most cell phones today use Wi-Fi technology based on older standards, the newer specification called 802.11n is gaining traction. And by 2012, ABI says it will become the predominant Wi-Fi technology used in mobile handsets.


Techdy Bear views :
Wi-Fi is becoming a must-have for smartphones. Today's users are using internet on their smartphones than years before. They can use 3G or GPRS ... for accessing the internet. Wi-Fi still a good choice for those who are in Wi-Fi-covered area. Cheap (or FREE). Why spending money when you can get it for free?


sources : CRAVE