Smartphone sensors to generate over $6bn in mobile revs by 2016

Demand for accelerometers and other MEMS set to boom along with mobile device adoption.

UK-based Juniper Research says MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) such as accelerometers, which detect the angle of your phone, among other sensors, audio and displays will pass the $6 billion revenue mark within the next four years.

According to the report, the MEMS market will boom as manufacturers apply the technology to smartphones, tablets, e-books and ultrabooks, which are all rapidly being embraced by consumers.

Inertial sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers are used in most gaming and navigation apps, making them of key importance to smartphones and tablets.

Nitin Bhas, report author, says: "It is worth noting that MEMS sensors are expected to become an important differentiator for mobile device manufacturers towards enabling different capabilities and functionalities, including location based and navigation services.

"There are lots of additional functionalities that smartphones and tablets will pick up over time and those capabilities have already started to appear such as stabilisation control."