UPnP and DLNA Poised for Growth

According to recent research by In-Stat, Windows 7 is expected to jump start consumer adoption of Universal Plug and Play(UPnP) and Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) technology. DLNA will see more than a billion units shipped by 2014, a significant increase from the few hundred million units shipped in 2009, with UPnP shipments slightly exceeding DLNA shipments.

The UPnP standard was designed to ensure interoperability among devices from different manufacturers. Building on the UPnP standard, DLNA is a set of guidelines for how to connect PCs and other consumer electronics in the home; for example, DLNA-enabled devices allow consumers to view their computer files on their HDTV. The DLNA guidelines specify the UPnP standard as the connection that all DLNA-certified devices have to use.

Windows 7 not only supports DLNA, but also requires that peripheral devices – such as HDTVs, Xbox 360s, electronic picture frames, etc. – be DLNA-certified to be listed as Windows 7 compatible. Currently, many consumers do not realize their PCs have these interconnection capabilities. As awareness of these capabilities increases, DLNA and UPnP adoption and sales are expected to grow significantly.

• DLNA-enabled handsets, PCs and digital televisions are poised to see the most widespread adoption, accounting for 74 percent of the 2014 DLNA market.
• More than 85 million DLNA-enabled Blu-Ray players and recorders are projected to ship in 2014.
• Digital media controllers, which currently make up the smallest volume of UPnP shipments, will account for the largest growth.

This growth in adoption presents an enormous opportunity for manufacturers, but the array of consumer devices on the market can make verifying interoperability a challenge. Allion has established its Ecosystem Validation program to help manufacturers with product development; this validation tests a product with a complete line of digital products to ensure that it will function properly when a consumer brings it home. With interoperability a critical attribute for today’s consumer electronics, ecosystem validation can help developers ensure that their products will function properly in any home network.