Future netbook computer users are expected to place more emphasis on pervasive Internet connectivity that will drive increasingly higher penetration of embedded 3G (and later LTE) capability. This, coupled with increasing operator traction, will drive the growth of 3G Netbook category at a 124% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) reaching 34 million units in 2014 reaching a 45% 3G/LTE attachment rate.

A report from Forward Concepts also notes that Smartbooks & Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) will ship with near-ubiquitous 3G/LTE connectivity and will benefit from the pent up demand for a compact multimedia intensive, always-on, ultra-mobile device. They project these devices to grow at a 176% CAGR reaching 63 million units in 2014.

As LTE networks begin to emerge in 2010, they will be the fastest growing air-interface technology in 3G/LTE Netbooks and Smartbooks/MIDs reaching 5 million and 4.1 million units, respectively, in 2014.

According to Satish Menon, Senior Analyst for Forward Concepts and primary author of the report, "As a result of limited upward mobility of non-captive Smartphone O/S, Smartbooks are currently lacking an 'anchor' web-centric, multitasking and lightweight O/S capable of fully exploiting the ARM-based applications processors. It is unlikely that Microsoft will be porting Windows7 to ARM platforms, but Maemo, Android, and Chrome are among early O/S candidates for Smartbooks, whether they be based on ARM Processors or on X86 platforms, like Intel's upcoming Moorestown."

Will Strauss, Forward Concepts' president and editor of the report, said "The study provides detailed forecasts of Netbooks/Smartbooks & MIDs and compares them with our forecasts of Notebooks and Smartphones, as well. The individual integrated circuits forecast in the study are predicted to total $9.7 billion in 2014 and the report provides detailed forecasts for application processors, basebands, RF transceivers, and for the myriad of ancillary chips that make up the devices."