3com HAS DROPPED its Audrey line of Internet access devices, and the PC seems here to stay (see “7 Reasons the PC Is Here to Stay, Page 100), but a recent report from Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Cahner’s In-Stat Group remains optimistic about the Internet appliance sector.The report, “Internet Appliances: Escaping the PC Shadow?” claims that the market for such devices?including wired terminals, touch pads and set-top boxes?will expand by more than 40 percent each year and become a $1.3 billion business between now and 2005. But vendors need to do at least one of two things to make the prediction a reality, says report author and In-Stat Senior Analyst Brian O’Rourke. Either hardware costs?which currently rival the prices of low-end PCs?need to drop significantly, O’Rourke states, or vendors must add additional features that differentiate the devices from traditional computers. For instance, he notes, personal TV services similar to those from TiVo or ReplayTV might be built in to set-top Internet appliances such as Microsoft’s WebTV and America Online’s AOLTV. O’Rourke says that some vendors are also looking beyond the consumer space and into corporate vertical markets, such as health care and the hospitality industry, where portable and simple Internet access devices can offer significant benefits beyond those of more cumbersome PCs. Related content BrandPost What’s next for network operations Broadcom: 2023 Tech Trends That Transform IT By Serge Lucio, Vice President and General Manager, Agile Operations Division Mar 20, 2023 8 mins IT Leadership Networking BrandPost Digital transformation obstacles: Stubborn challenges, what to do about them Value Stream Management is an increasingly essential approach to strategic transformation initiatives. To help teams more fully capitalize on the opportunities it presents, Broadcom is holding its third annual VSM Summit. By Marla Schimke, Head of Product and Growth Marketing, Broadcom's Enterprise Software Division Mar 20, 2023 3 mins Devops Software Development Feature CEO directives: Top 5 initiatives for IT leaders As organizations change course with economic gyrations, collaboration between IT and business becomes priority No. 1 for CEOs. By Stacy Collett Mar 20, 2023 7 mins IT Leadership Feature Topgolf Callaway tees up digital transformation for global expansion As Topgolf Callaway Brands transitions from focusing on manufacturing golf equipment to integrating its apparel and technology acquisitions, digital transformation is helping drive its future. By Thor Olavsrud Mar 20, 2023 6 mins Digital Transformation Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe