Endspan and Midspan Power over Ethernet Technologies are being implemented around the world in Networks large, medium and small. There are many new applications driving the growth of PoE. Since the two Technologies are often used to solve fundamentally different powering issues,
End Users often choose one Technology type over the other.

The information was compiled by a prominent market research group, Venture Development Corporation. Their annual report entitled "Power over Ethernet: A Global Market Demand Analysis" is made available once each year to participating organizations.

Some key metrics from the VDC report include actual and forecast data for PoE implementation, Endspan vs. Midspan, in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Endspan growth is steady over the 3 year period with 140M Ports in 2006, 175M Ports in 2007 and 205M Ports in 2008 (worldwide), Midspan growth is also steady with 4.95M Ports in 2006, 8.1M Ports in 2007 and 11.75M Ports in 2008. The ratios of Endspan adoption to Midspan Port adoption are as follows: 28 to 1 in 2006, 22 to 1 in 2007 and 17 to 1 in 2008. The data clearly shows that while there is strong growth in both the Endspan and Midspan categories, Midspan Port adoption is growing at a faster percentage rate going forward. One way to understand the forward growth and on-going demand for Midspan PoE is to look at the list of devices, which are anticipated to become ready for PoE in the next several years. While the beginning of the PoE life cycle has seen demand based on powering of mostly IP Phones and Wireless Access Points that take power as specified by the IEEE 802.3af PoE Standard, the future of applications and End devices for PoE takes a much broader approach.

The VDC Survey asked numerous Manufacturers of products across many technologies to rank new products which could be made ready for PoE, though not limited to the IEEE Standard style PoE. The need for 24v, 12v or 5v would rule out powering by Endspan Switches which are only capable of IEEE standard 48v and 15.4 watts maximum. Midspan PoE is capable of mix and match voltage and protocol styles and will be preferred for many of these new applications including: IP Based Network Security Cameras, RFID Tag Readers, IP Thermostats, Print Servers, Bar code Scanning, Alarm Systems and Sensors, Security Access controls including badge readers, Smoke detectors, Stage lighting, Industrial Clocks and time keeping, Lighting controls and In-Flight Entertainment systems.

Some additional insights from VDC are that these new PoE enabled End devices will continue to spur growth of both Endspan and Midspan PoE techniques well into the future. End users have already accepted that PoE, as with the Ethernet medium itself, will not cause data degradation or loss of integrity whether enabled into an Ethernet Switch or injected with a Midspan Hub onto the Structured Cabling System. VDC sees the following industries as benefiting most from the uplift in PoE adoption; Power Supply, UPS, Midspan PoE Hub and Endspan PoE enabled Switch Suppliers. The other market segment gaining value due to PoE are all the Manufacturers making End devices which can now accept PoE power as End Users are much more likely to choose those brands over similar products without PoE functionality.

Conclusion
The marketplace for both Endspan and Midspan PoE is healthy and will continue to grow in future years. This growth is based partly on a wide range of additional new products coming which will be powerable via PoE technology. Many of these devices will be better suited to Midspan powering due to variances in voltage or wattage requirements or the smaller number of units required on the End User's Network. LAN Power Systems, as a major technology innovator in the PoE market, is committed to long-term participation and continual development of new PoE products which incorporate the key elements of Flexibility, Simplicity and Value.