The primary result of the recent entrants to this market is to skew the handheld demographic older. The primary means to do this is to offer more graphics-intensive gaming, as well as other functionality in addition to gaming. Different platforms offer different capabilities, which include: digital audio and video playback, digital photo viewing, mobile phone, PDA, camera, instant messaging, and even GPS capability. The result is that handheld game consoles are morphing into portable media convergence devices.
This report includes in-depth analysis and forecasts for all handheld platforms. Annual shipment and revenue forecasts through 2009 are provided for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, Nokia N-Gage, Tapwave Zodiac and Gizmondo. Geographic shipment breakdowns for 2004 and 2005 are provided for each console. Results from In-Stat's Residential Technology Survey on handheld platforms are also provided.
A suddenly active handheld market became even more crowded over the past year. With the release of three new consoles, the handheld market is a long way from the time when the Game Boy was the only game in town.