Tuned in to music on the move

Audio equipment companies are out to woo those who not only use mobile devices to listen to music and watch videos or movies, but also want to enjoy a home theatre-like experience. Sharath Santhakumaran, director–lifestyle, at audio equipment maker Harman International (India), pegs the global market for home and multimedia acoustic devices at $13 billion (Rs 79,547 crore). Harman's brand JBL has a range of wireless portable speakers and docking ports for iPads and iPhones. JBL Charge, a portable audio system, even sports a USB port to charge mobile devices. Bose India has noise-cancelling headphones (QuietComfort 20) and mini speakers (SoundLink) aimed at the mobile segment. "Companies providing high-end solutions for music and photography will keep themselves tied to the mobile ecosystem," predicts Faisal Kawoosa, who leads the telecoms and semiconductor & and electronics practices at CyberMedia Research.