1 Billion Smartphones with Location-Based Sensor Fusion by 2016

As smartphones embrace always-on, ubiquitous location, location-based sensor fusion will become a standard feature. ABI Research’s report, “Location-based Sensor Fusion: Companies, Technologies, and Revenue Opportunities”, outlines how sensor fusion will evolve to support indoor location and the companies best placed to succeed in this space. Location-based sensor fusion will enable the dawn of the quantified self, ambient intelligence, as well as provide huge potential around advertising and retail.

Senior analyst Patrick Connolly comments, “Sensor fusion is vital in enabling a consistent location experience, RF mapping, and the industry to scale rapidly. Unfortunately, it is not just a case of putting in a 9-axis sensor to achieve this. Highly complex algorithms are required to optimize sensor outputs, integrate with other location technologies and combine with machine learning and data-fusion algorithms. Sensor fusion will surpass Wi-Fi and BLE as the most important handset-based indoor location technology by 2017.”

ABI Research has forecast the adoption of different indoor location technologies, and the companies best placed to be successful. “We see a significant trend towards hybridization, with Wi-Fi, BLE, and senor fusion proving to be vital. By 2014, hybrid solutions will have already surpassed standalone indoor location technologies on smartphones. Longer term, technologies around optical light, object recognition, and LTE-direct are all forecast to offer differentiation,” continues Patrick Connolly.

VP and practice director Dominique Bonte adds, “The market is largely divided between Sensor IC OEMs, GPS/connectivity IC OEMs, and a group of really interesting start-ups. Companies like Movea, HillCrest, indoo.rs, and Senionlab are creating some intriguing solutions and will represent the next generation of acquisitions and partnerships in indoor location.”

These findings are part of ABI Research’s Location Devices Research Service, which includes Research Analyses, Market Data, Insights, Presentations, and Competitive Assessments focused on the indoor location market.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 70+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.