ABI Research predicts that WiFi (News - Alert) location will surprass all other location technologies including GPS, cellular and MEMs and estimates that shipments will cross over one billion by 2015.

In a press release, Senior Analyst, Patrick Connolly, said, “Location-based services, revenues and advertising are the hot topics of 2010 as companies grapple to gain control of this market. The key is accurate, ubiquitous location-finding across a variety of portable devices such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops. ABI Research (News - Alert) has forecast that with the proliferation of WiFi and increasingly lower cost or free location engines, it will become the most widely available location technology over the next five years.”

The WiFi location market is mostly split between current incumbents such as Skyhook Wireless and Mexens Technologies, Inc., and leading GPS companies like Broadcom (News - Alert) and CSR/SiRF as well as new threats from giants such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Nokia, and even Facebook.

The latest lawsuit involving Skyhook and Google (News - Alert) is a clear indicator of how important this space is becoming. Location is the key to unlocking the potential of location-based advertising, marketing, and analytics. Now that WiFi location is all set to become ubiquitous it has become a vital technology to support. The lawsuit has also highlighted how despite a plethora of free solutions, there is a huge market for high-quality location technologies.

Some of the other emerging location technologies include MEMs, barcodes, NFC/RFiD, Bluetooth, and TV. GPS alone will no longer be adequate to support the next generation of services and revenue streams. Local search, location-based advertising, geotagging, social networking and augmented reality services are all significantly improved through increased accuracy and indoor/ubiquitous location.

ABI Research’s new “Alternative Positioning Technologies” study provides forecasts for each location technology (individual and hybrid), across all key portable device markets. The market for location-based advertising is also considered, for the first time, as a growing source of potential revenue. Forecasts are given for each location technology (individual and hybrid), across all key portable device markets.

This study is part of the Location Platforms and Enablers Research Service which also includes another Market Data product, Research Reports, Research Briefs, ABI Insights, ABI Vendor Matrices, and analyst inquiry support.