According to a new report from ABI Research, wearable wireless sensors for fitness and wellbeing will surpass 80 million devices by 2016. This figure will eclipse other wireless sensors markets, including professional and home healthcare monitoring. In its report, ABI notes a range of factors will influence the uptick in devices: wireless protocol standardization, new device availability, as well as changing social patterns that encourage people to record and share fitness performance data.

“There is real and strong growth potential for wearable wireless devices in the consumer market today,” said ABI Research principal analyst Jonathan Collins in a press release. “These devices don’t require the same level of complexity and regulation to deploy that healthcare devices do.”

The new wireless standards that are spurring this growth include M2M (cellular-enabled) and short range connectivity (i.e. Bluetooth or ANT+). This market will have an estimated 46 percent compound annual growth rate from 2010 to 2016.

“Enabling online fitness data collection and sharing will drive key new revenue streams,” said Collins. “Online applications also bring the promise of a social networking effect, with participants sharing their results with friends or new groups formed within the application, thus spurring further adoption.”

ABI Research reported back in 2009 that 400 million wireless sensors would reach the market by 2014.

Read the full press release after the jump.

LONDON--Much is made of the enormous potential for wearable wireless sensors to deliver remote healthcare, and for good reason. But over the next five years, adoption of wireless healthcare sensors will lag well behind uptake of consumer-driven sports, fitness and wellness devices.

A range of factors – from wireless protocol standardization and new device availability to changing social patterns related to participation in activities – will see consumers increasingly turn to wearable wireless sensors to monitor (and often share) their performance results. A combination of M2M and short range wireless connectivity will be embedded in a range of consumer wellness and professional healthcare devices that will connect data collection to cloud applications.

“There is real and strong growth potential for wearable wireless devices in the consumer market today,” says ABI Research principal analyst Jonathan Collins. “These devices don’t require the same level of complexity and regulation to deploy that healthcare devices do.”

Instead, sports, fitness and wellness monitoring will enable established and new players in the market to tie wearable devices sales to online applications and the recurring revenues of value-added subscription services.

“Enabling online fitness data collection and sharing will drive key new revenue streams,” adds Collins. “Online applications also bring the promise of a social networking effect, with participants sharing their results with friends or new groups formed within the application, thus spurring further adoption.”

The sports, fitness and wellness market will leverage a range of short-range wireless protocols and M2M connectivity to grow at a 46% CAGR from 2010 to 2016, reaching just under 80 million device sales in 2016.

Alongside their adoption in the sports, fitness and wellness market, wearable wireless devices will also see use in a range of home health-related markets such as home monitoring.

ABI Research’s new “Wireless Health and Fitness” study (http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1003408) assesses the market opportunity for wireless enabled devices and communications within the home and consumer market. Analysis and forecasts are split across three broad categories: sports, fitness and wellbeing; home monitoring; and remote patient monitoring.

The report is included in two ABI Research Services: Wireless Healthcare (http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/Wireless_Healthcare_Research...) and Smart Cities (http://www.abiresearch.com/product/service/Smart_Cities_Research_Service), which also include other Research Reports, Market Data, Surveys, ABI Insights, and analyst inquiry support.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of trends in global connectivity and other emerging technologies. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia, ABI Research’s worldwide team of experts advises thousands of decision makers through 40+ research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.