multiple PCs and devices within homes will reap a
$4 billion market reward by the year 2002,
according to a new study by a West Coast
securities firm.
This latest prediction, issued in a recent report by
Los Angeles-based Wedbush Morgan Securities,
underscores the increased focus from several
corners of the industry on making it easy for
consumer computer users within a home to build a
network to share resources and gain access to the
Net.
The study follows a bevy of activity on the
standards front, including a new group for phone
line-based networks, another chartered for
connecting a variety of electronic devices, and still
another focused on delivering wireless
communications within the home.
Wedbush Morgan Securities estimates that home
networking will become a $1 billion market by the
year 2000 and jump to a $4 billion opportunity by
2002.
One reason for the expected home networking
boom is estimates that 61 percent of the expected
57 million homes with PCs will have more than one
by the year 2000. In addition, 49 percent of
households will be connected to the Net by the
year 2000, according to the estimates, a
compilation of Wedbush Morgan, Dataquest, and
Intel studies.
Wedbush Morgan said it believes technology for
in-home networks will be ready for use by the
fourth quarter of this year.
Among the nascent firms listed as potential
beneficiaries of the boom are: Tut Systems,
Epigram, ShareWave, and WebGear, according to
the study.
Others expected to reap the benefits are Microsoft,
Compaq Computer, and Lucent Technologies, the
study said.