Mp3 Industry
The Global Portable Media Player Industry
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Industry Overview
Identification and definition of the global portable media player industry
A portable media player (PMP) is an electronic device that allows the owner to store, organize and play audio files as well as to view images and videos. The data is usually stored on a hard drive or a flash memory, enabling the storage of all kinds of files as on a USB flash drive. The PMP can be connected to a computer with a USB or FireWire connector, or via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi link. The worldwide leader on this industry is clearly Apple with the iPod (around 70% of market share in US). SanDisk is the direct challenger, even though it is far from catching up with Apple with around 17% of market share in US. Then come Creative, Microsoft and Samsung[1] which together own around 10% of the US market. Finally we find a half-dozen of outsiders, as iRiver, Philips, Neonumeric, Archos, Sony, Meizu and Cowon, sharing the remaining 3% of the US market.
It is difficult to have precise global figures but the US’ trend is representative of the global market; except in China where Apple is not the leader but second after Samsung. According to the Standard Industrial Classification, the PMPs belong to the household audio and video equipment industry (SIC 3651).
Origin of the industry
In the middle of 1998 appeared the first mass-produced Digital Audio Player (DAP: allowing the user to store, organize and play audio files only), the Eiger Labs MPMan. In 1999, Remote Solution sold the first hard drive based DAP, the Personal Jukebox-100. By the end of 2001, Apple commercialized its first iPod that was a DAP with a minimalistic user interface which allowed users to see the name of the band performing the current song as well as the name of the album. This interface was in black and white. In early July 2002, the first PMP was offered for sale: the Archos Jukebox. By
[pic]
Industry Overview
Identification and definition of the global portable media player industry
A portable media player (PMP) is an electronic device that allows the owner to store, organize and play audio files as well as to view images and videos. The data is usually stored on a hard drive or a flash memory, enabling the storage of all kinds of files as on a USB flash drive. The PMP can be connected to a computer with a USB or FireWire connector, or via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi link. The worldwide leader on this industry is clearly Apple with the iPod (around 70% of market share in US). SanDisk is the direct challenger, even though it is far from catching up with Apple with around 17% of market share in US. Then come Creative, Microsoft and Samsung[1] which together own around 10% of the US market. Finally we find a half-dozen of outsiders, as iRiver, Philips, Neonumeric, Archos, Sony, Meizu and Cowon, sharing the remaining 3% of the US market.
It is difficult to have precise global figures but the US’ trend is representative of the global market; except in China where Apple is not the leader but second after Samsung. According to the Standard Industrial Classification, the PMPs belong to the household audio and video equipment industry (SIC 3651).
Origin of the industry
In the middle of 1998 appeared the first mass-produced Digital Audio Player (DAP: allowing the user to store, organize and play audio files only), the Eiger Labs MPMan. In 1999, Remote Solution sold the first hard drive based DAP, the Personal Jukebox-100. By the end of 2001, Apple commercialized its first iPod that was a DAP with a minimalistic user interface which allowed users to see the name of the band performing the current song as well as the name of the album. This interface was in black and white. In early July 2002, the first PMP was offered for sale: the Archos Jukebox. By