Cumulative Shipments of Portable Multimedia Players to Top 13 Million Units by 2010

Dallas, Texas June 30, 2005 – High prices and limited video content will inhibit demand for HDD (hard disk drive) portable multimedia players (PMPs), which will reach only 17% of U.S. online households by 2010, according to Parks Associates’ Portable Multimedia Players: Analysis and Forecasts.

Competition from existing devices such as portable DVD players and mobile phones with multimedia functions will also limit adoption of HDD-based PMPs, as reported in this new study, which estimates the cumulative U.S. shipments of these devices will reach 13 million units by 2010.

"The PMP market will not experience the rapid growth typical of portable MP3 players," said Harry Wang, research analyst at Parks Associates. "We anticipate a flatter adoption curve and lukewarm demand over the next two years, with meaningful increases in consumer interest by late 2007 or early 2008."

Although the forecast for PMPs is not as upbeat as hoped, manufacturers could stimulate interest to some extent, according to Wang, by bundling unique video content with the device or by raising product awareness among consumers who are receptive to the concept of multimedia content on the go.

Portable Multimedia Players: Analysis and Forecasts probes market demand for PMPs, evaluates product and pricing strategies, analyzes market drivers and barriers, and estimates adoption rates and market potential over the next five years. Moreover, the report profiles key players in emerging market segments and features consumer data from the recently completed survey Mobile Entertainment Platforms and Services.
For additional information on Portable Multimedia Players: Analysis and Forecasts, visit http://www.parksassociates.com or contact 972-490-1113 or sales@parksassociates.com.

About Parks Associates: Parks Associates is a market research and consulting firm focused on all product and service segments that are "digital" or provide connectivity within the home. The company’s expertise includes home networks, digital entertainment, consumer electronics, broadband and Internet services, and home systems.

Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, multiclient studies, consumer research, workshops, and custom-tailored client solutions. Parks Associates also hosts Fall Focus and co-hosts CONNECTIONS™ (in partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association) each year. http://www.parksassociates.com.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jenny Barrett
Parks Associates
972-490-1113
Email: sales@parksassociates.com

Cumulative Shipments of Portable Multimedia Players to Top 13 Million Units by 2010
Barriers such as High Price and a Lack of Compelling Video Content to Slow Adoption