Portable wireless speakers come of age
IFA GPC 2015: The ultimate travel-friendly audio gadget is on the rise
With thousands of digital tracks on our smartphones and services like Spotify streaming into them each day, it’s clear that the future of music is wireless. That’s great for travellers, who are getting more and more innovative wireless speakers fit for travel – and TravGear has already reviewed dozens – but this isn’t just a future trend. Speaking at the Grand Press Conference 2015 of Berlin travel tech fair IFA, GfK confirmed that a whopping 85% of all docking speakers sold are now wireless.
Smart speakers
“The market for docking speakers has got three times bigger since 2008,” said Jurgen Boyny at analysts GfK to a packed-out press conference held in St Georges Bay, Malta, adding that people are not buying CD players and home audio equipment anymore. “The wireless connection to a smartphone is crucial – 85% are now connected at least via Bluetooth.” The market for wireless, portable speakers has doubled in the last year in Europe.
Bluetooth or WiFi?
There are two ways of getting music from a phone or tablet to a portable speaker; over Bluetooth or over WiFi. While the latter brings far better sounds quality, it’s the each of use of the formers that’s allowing Bluetooth to dominate. Read more reviews of Bluetooth speakers here.