IDC predicting rapid growth of wearables in 2016

Global shipment volume of wearables is expected to rise by as much as 38.2 percent YoY by the end of 2016 according to the latest findings from analysts at the International Data Corporation (IDC). The firm attributes the rapid growth to the growing number of wearable suppliers and manufacturers as well as the increasingly strong interest from the public. IDC is also expecting double-digit growth for the next several years with as many as 237.1 million units by 2020.

Smartwatches and bracelets as fitness trackers will rise to 100 million units this year and collectively made up 72.2 percent of all wearables in 2015. Other wearables like clothing and eyewear will have a potential market value of 9.8 million Euros in 2016. Accordingly, the emphasis in the wearables market continues to be on smartwatches.

The world's largest smartwatch providers continue to be Apple and Google with watchOS and Android Wear, respectively, and the trend is not expected to change by 2020. Still, IDC is predicting that RTOS (real-time operating system) wearables from Chinese ODMs may play an important role in the market in the near future.

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