Our Embedded Hardware and Systems research team recently published critical global findings of the rapidly expanding Computers-on-Modules (COMs) market. Based on our analysis, COMs dollar volume shipments over the 2009 - 2014 forecast period are projected to grow at a rate faster than nearly all embedded hardware technologies which VDC analyzes. In fact, based on extensive supply-side and demand-side primary research, we are forecasting the total global COMs market size will reach just over $910 million by 2014, and display a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 23%.
Among the clear drivers of COM shipment growth are (1) the system expansion and application-specific customization capabilities of the technology, and (2) the relatively low power consumption and small form-factor dimensions the technology possesses.
Another influential factor is time-to-market advantages OEMs, SIs, and independent hardware designers gain, as this audience continues to seek significant reduction in development time of embedded systems in industrial and commercial applications when utilizing COMs.
From the channels of distribution perspective, our research suggests the marketing and sales of COMS will begin to fragment somewhat, as suppliers look to add more third-party distributors, VARs, and other resellers in an effort to capitalize on the expanding COMs market.
In summary, VDC believes as the complexity of embedded hardware design and implementation accelerates, an ever increasing number of vendors - third-party distributors, and VARs, etc. - will continue migrating into the embedded space, with COMs and COMs-based solutions. In fact, many large distributors have already begun offering development kits online, as well as offering other support services, that will help enable a more rapid solution development cycle.
Let us know your thoughts about global COMs market opportunities and how the channel will impact pricing, availability, and hardware and software integration.
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