UWB in Smartphones Could Become ‘Ubiquitous’ by 2025, Reports ABI

Ultra-wideband-enabled smartphone shipments will increase from 42 million handsets in 2019 to nearly 514 million in 2025, about a third of the global smartphone market, reported ABI Research Wednesday. It forecasts shipments of more than 2 billion between 2019 and 2025. “Smartphones will see an increase in the integration of UWB, providing users with the ability to accurately locate other UWB-enabled devices, unlock doors or vehicles, and automatically wireless pay for products,” said ABI. “While other devices will also have the ability to provide these use cases and others, the vast shipment numbers associated with smartphones will allow the devices to lead the UWB market.” UWB has the long-term potential to become as “ubiquitous as Bluetooth within smartphones,” it said. Challenges abound, including the complex integration of antennas, the current high cost of components and infrastructure and “the limited awareness around what the technology provides over others,” said ABI.