BYOD Supporters Gain Momentum, CEA Survey Suggests

While many IT organizations may be looking to a future with corporate owned, personally enabled (COPE), a new survey from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has pointed to continued momentum of personally-owned mobile devices, and in turn more momentum for bring your own device (BYOD). Consumer spending on electronics has increased over the last 12 months and managed services providers (MSPs) should take notice. We'll reveal the key takeaways from the survey.

The 15th Annual Household Consumer Electronic (CE) Ownership and Market Potential Study revealed that consumer electronics (CE) spending is up 35 percent for individuals and 36 percent for households over the last 12 months, which includes consumer spending on mobile devices, televisions and subscription services. Let's focus in on mobile devices, shall we?

Sale of tablet computers are driving growth

The study found that the household penetration of tablets grew 17 percent year over year, a driving factor in the CE industry growth as a whole. Household penetration rates for smartphones increased by 12 percent, e-readers by 10 percent, and wireless mobile hotspots 10 percent.

"For the first time in the 15 years we’ve conducted this survey, the top four products making headway in U.S. households are mobile devices," said CEA Market Research Senior Research Analyst Kevin Tillmann said in a prepared statement. "We’re seeing overall household penetration rates for smartphones and tablets at 58 percent and 39 percent respectively, and we expect they will continue to dominate the marketplace in the coming year."

Mobility will continue to show growth

The survey found that mobility will continue to produce upward results, revealing that 29 percent of consumers plan to purchase smartphones in the next year, which placed second behind consumers purchasing headphones. Twenty-two percent of consumers plan to purchase laptop computers, while 21 percent plan to purchase tablets.