Smart Speakers, Smart Home and Whole Home Wi-Fi Solutions to Reach Revenue Milestones Says Consumer Technology Association

Artificial intelligence (AI), voice-recognition technology and fast connectivity – critical ingredients for smart speakers, smart home technologies and smartphones – will help spur overall U.S. consumer technology industry revenue to $377 billion in retail revenues in 2018, a six percent increase, according to the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). The mid-year update of CTA’s flagship report, U.S. Consumer Technology Sales and Forecasts, also shows whole home Wi-Fi solutions and wireless earbuds will each cross the $1 billion wholesale revenue milestone for the first time this year.

Market research firm Futuresource Consulting announced the latest edition of its "Voice Assistants in Consumer Electronics" report. Voice Assistants (VAs) are being integrated into an increasing number and variety of connected consumer devices in multiple markets and are on course to develop as a major user interface over the next 2-3 years, according to this latest report, which leverages new industry and end-user research to assess the size and shape of the market at a worldwide and regional level.

The Mobile World Congress returns in 2018, held 26 February – 1 March at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain. The event brings more than 100,000 attendees from over 200 countries and 2,300 exhibitors together in one place, creating a dynamic environment of collaboration, innovation and education that will advance the mobile industry. Front and center in this year's edition will be once again the future of personal mobile technologies, wearables, and many innovations that will affect the audio industry.