NEW YORK, USA: Revenue from mobile broadband cards (standard PC cards and embedded cards) grew six percent in 1Q09 over 4Q09 to $1.55 billion worldwide, says Infonetics Research.

"Embedded mobile devices now account for a third of the mobile broadband devices market; the trend for mobile broadband connectivity embedded within consumer devices will continue apace, moving beyond PC-based devices to multiple new form factors," notes Richard Webb, directing analyst, mobile devices, Infonetics Research.

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Strong growth is expected in mobile broadband card revenue and unit shipments in 2010, driven in large part by increasing adoption of HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), adds the firm in its latest report.

LTE-based mobile broadband embedded PC card sales are forecast to top $3.8 billion in 2014.
 
Shipments of mobile routers jumped 59 percent in 1Q10 over 4Q09 as mobile operators see them as a means of offloading mobile data traffic onto WiFi and are actively promoting them.
 
While this market is somewhat uncertain, it may continue to grow now that that these mobile (or 'hotspot') routers are smaller and more easily portable for vacations, work-related travel, in-vehicles, etc., appealing to a broader audience.

Huawei, Sony Ericsson and ZTE are the top three mobile broadband card revenue market share leaders in 1Q10.
 
The number of mobile broadband subscribers surpassed DSL subscribers for the first time in 2009, and is forecast to grow to 1.8 billion worldwide in 2014.