The market for ATCA (Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture) embedded single-board computer blades has begun to pick up some momentum after what had been a slower than expected start, according to analysts at Venture Development Corp. (VDC) in Natick, Mass.

Information on the ATCA blade market is part of the first volume of VDC’s Market Intelligence Program for Merchant Computer Boards for Embedded/Real-Time Applications, which focuses on single-board computers and embedded CPU blades.

In 2005, sales of ATCA embedded CPU blades were $41.2 million with expected 2006 shipments nearly double at $78.8 million. Many vendors were to begin shipment of ATCA blades in the last half of 2006, to join the few vendors that were already past the design and development stage and shipping ATCA products during 2005.

The market is expected to continue to grow, with shipments projected to reach $130.2 million in 2007, VDC analysts say, and are then expected to more than double one year later in 2008.

Many suppliers continued to keep ATCA embedded CPU blades in the development stage, as demand for the products had been slow to materialize. It appears that ATCA is currently in the midst of gaining the traction required for the architecture to flourish in the near future, as had been previously forecast.

ATCA offers several market advantages. First is the formalization and adoption of ATCA, MicroTCA, and AMC standards and amendments by PICMG (PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group). Second is the convergence of voice, data, and mobile network technology through the evolution of the communications network to information management systems (IMS), with many IMS applications utilizing ATCA equipment. Last is the acceptance of ATCA as a viable approach to many new-product development projects by Tier 1 telephone-equipment manufacturers.

For more information contact VDC online at www.vdc-corp.com.