Parks Associates (News - Alert) has released new research showing that more than broadband customers in the U.S. are interested in smart home solutions. A typical smart home offering includes various safety and management features.
Among the above-mentioned features, home management seems to be drawing the highest number of people to smart home offerings. Obviously, there is a huge potential in this market and major players like Verizon, AT&T Digital Life, Time Warner (News - Alert) Cable, and Comcast have already started testing the waters in this industry vertical. The research report notes that the offerings by these companies could be game-changers in the smart home solution industry.
AT&T’s (News - Alert) Digital Life smart home offering provides two levels of security: Smart Security & Simple Security, coming with numerous automation add-ons for the former. It essentially allows users to monitor and access their home's security system from their computer, smartphone or tablet. They can even receive text and video alerts of events at home. There are other features available, including the ability to arm and disarm the alarms remotely.
“Consumers, while interested in smart home services, are averse to long-term contracts, but there are other, alternate options for building revenues," said Tom Kerber, Director of Research, Home Controls & Energy at Parks Associates. "To avoid monthly monitoring fees, consumers are willing to let their service provider adjust their thermostat during peak hours. There is also interest in in-app purchases and advertising, which could be a source of incremental revenue for product manufacturers and service providers.”
Parks Associates has released another report that focuses on some other aspects of smart homes. The research states that about 50 percent of U.S. broadband households own a programmable thermostat, and 11 percent have one that can connect to the Internet. About 20 percent of these households also own an electric or natural gas vehicle.
Edited by Rory J. Thompson