Home Control Systems Interest Mass-Market Consumers
New research from The Diffusion Group finds strong iInterest in low-cost home automation solutions.
Dallas, TX (PRWEB via PR Web Direct)
May 26, 2005 -- According to new research from The Diffusion Group, a leading
digital home research consultancy, more than one-half of U.S. Internet
households are to varying degrees interested in purchasing a home control system
(HCS) to automate the control of home lighting, room temperature and security
systems if the price of the solution is less than $200.
Innovations in
automation technology, combined with the diffusion of home networks, have helped
to bring the cost of home control functionality down to a level where consumers
are more likely to be interested in connecting and automating systems in their
homes.
"The cost to purchase and install home control solutions has
historically been prohibitive to mainstream consumers, often costing several
thousand dollars for an entry-level package. With recent HCS innovations,
however, this is no longer the case," said Dale E. Gilliam III, director of
primary research at The Diffusion Group. "The most pressing challenge facing the
home control industry today is not one of innovation or technology, but one of
pricing: that is, reducing the cost of such systems to a point where a critical
mass of consumers will actually purchase the products."
TDG's research
found that although consumer interest in HCS is greatest at prices below $200,
higher price levels sustained significant interest. For example, approximately
30% of Internet heads-of-household are to varying degrees interested in
purchasing a HCS if priced between $200 and $400, and 20% are to varying degrees
if the price is more than $400.
Other important findings of this report
include:
* Approximately 7% of U.S. Internet homes are currently automated
with HCS solutions;
* HCS intenders (and owners) are quite interested in
innovations of media distribution throughout the home – specifically, they are:
- 62% more likely to be comfortable using a PC as the central component to
their home entertainment center; and
- Three times as likely to be interested
in purchasing a media extender.
TDG's latest report, "Consumer Interest
in Home Control and Management Solutions," offers an analysis of current HCS
penetration among U.S. Internet households, as well as a detailed demographic
and technological profile, including ownership, usage, and interests of HCS
intenders. The report is part of TDG's ongoing Consumer Snapshot series that
profiles specific segments of the emerging digital home and connected consumer
marketplace.
About The Diffusion Group (TDG Research)
The Diffusion
Group is a consumer technology research and strategic marketing firm built by a
team of seasoned consumer technology analysts. Our mission is simple: to provide
timely, actionable intelligence designed to best position new consumer
technologies for rapid diffusion. TDG is committed to providing market research
and strategic consulting services based on conservative, real-world analysis and
market forecasts grounded in consumer research. For more information about The
Diffusion Group, visit our website at www.tdgresearch.com.
Press Contact:
Andy
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Phone:
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Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/5/prweb245230.htm