We have seen a couple of phones come out with integrated picoprojectors as added features to new mobile phones today and apparently this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Based on forecasts made by In-Stat, the market for picoprojectors is expected to exceed $1.1 billion within the next five years.

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

• Illumination technologies continue to develop with vendors offering both LED and laser. Green laser is a critical development area.
• Projector module economies of scale will expand the market for embedded picoprojectors to lower-priced cellphones and media players in the near future.
• Among companies offering picoprojectors include 3M, Displaytech, Foxxcon, Light Blue Optics, Oculon, Optoma, Microvision, Toshiba, and TI.

The research, “Embedded Picoprojectors Ready To Break Out Worldwide”, covers the worldwide market for picoprojectors. It includes:

• Market shipments, attach rates and five-year forecasts for products using picoprojector modules: cellphones, computing devices, personal media players, digital cameras, digital camcorders, and accessory projectors.
• Worldwide picoprojector module shipments and revenue forecasts.
• Analysis of competing illumination technologies (LED, laser) as well as MEMS and liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) displays.
• Profiles of key technology vendors.

(Source) Press