ARM to overtake Intel in mobile internet devices

Sales of mobile internet devices (MIDs) will exceed €11 billion (US$17 billion) annually by 2014, but Intel-based products will take a minority share, predicts research firm Strategy Analytics.

MIDs represent the latest attempt by computing and handset vendors to create a market for internet-capable devices.

The report predicts that global sales in 2008 will reach 1 million units, and will continue to grow at an average annual rate of 102% to reach 69 million units by 2014.

Intel's Moorestown system-on-a-chip will be critical to the company's MID strategy, said Peter King, director of the connected home devices service for Strategy Analytics. But until this arrives in 2009 or 2010, ARM-based vendors will use this window of opportunity to establish market leadership positions.

He said the ARM ecosystem's strengths in mobile devices would outweigh those of the Intel platform and that ARM devices will comprise the majority of MID sales thru 2014.

Strategy Analytics expects most MIDs will feature multiple wireless radios, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and cellular 3G.