What does the future hold for digital industry? A new report predicts that 2015’s headlines will be dominated by Go-Pro and Netflix being snapped up by larger rivals, closer alliances between East and West firms and 3D printers will struggle to get mainstream adoption.
The forecasts, from UK-based technology research firm CCS Insight, formed part of its new ‘ report.
“GoPro has excelled in the video and image capture market but is currently facing increased competition from new players and products,” reads the prediction.
“Google provides further investment and exploits GoPro’s brand, technical expertise and devoted users to advance Google Glass. It also invests in cloud storage and video processing services for GoPro owners.”
CSS Insight’s report also forecast that a major sports equipment manufacturer would buy a big wearables company, and specifically stated that chip-giant Qualcomm would snap up Fitbit.
“A brand like Nike or Adidas purchases a headset or wearables company such as Fitbit, Jabra or Jawbone to expand its product range,” forecast the report. “The move takes on greater significance as health and wellness functionality becomes pervasive in fitness bands, smartwatches, headsets and smart clothing.”
CCS Insight has calculated that smart watches will lead a wave of wearable technologies from wristbands to spectacles in a burgeoning new category of computing, with combined sales of some 135m by 2018, half of which will stem from smart watches.
Amongst the key applications projected for such gadgets are health monitoring of bodily processes such as heart beats and fitness trackers to keep tabs of calories burnt and miles jogged.
CSS Insight also expects Apple to strengthen its ties with Chinese search engine giant Baidu. The iPhone maker is focused on growth in China. Baidu wants to increase search revenue and user engagement by integrating its services in OS X and iOS.
The report also predicts Microsoft Corporation’s mobile platform to become the second most popular standard in the enterprise market, leaving behind BlackBerry and Android.
Enterprises are increasingly gravitating towards Microsoft devices, due to their easy integration with back-end systems and cloud services.
10 predictions for 2015 and beyond
Source: CCS Insight
1. The consumer 3D printing bubble bursts.
2. Google buys GoPro.
3. Despite Apple’s entrance, wearables remain a highly fragmented market until at least 2017.
4. Internet acquisitions will occur at multiples higher than WhatsApp’s.
5. European regulators become more sympathetic to mobile operators.
6. Western companies acquire internet players in the East during 2015.
7. A major Web player buys Netflix in 2015.
8. Google introduces a subscription-based video streaming service in 2015.
9. Vodafone acquires Sky in 2015.
10. Passwords as we know them become obsolete by the end of 2018.
Source: CCS Insight