One Provider To Supply All Smart Home Technologies?

- Credibility and Experience Required to Allay Consumer Fears

BOSTON, March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- For service providers to be accepted as a consolidated service provider for phone, media, environment, and security, they must establish a sense of knowledge and expertise within all areas.

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A recent study from the Digital Home Observatory (DHO) at Strategy Analytics surveying consumers in the UK and USA, found high consumer interest in smart home technologies around media experiences (e.g. TV programming and content), security (e.g. remote alarm monitoring) and environmental control (e.g. heating system remote automation) but low adoption of these technologies to date.

The idea of having one provider for all three smart home categories - Media, Environment and Security, is appealing to consumers for the convenience of consolidating bills and service providers. However, for consumers to adopt one company to provide all services, the provider must establish credibility and expertise within all areas.

Taryn Tulay, Analyst and report author said: "Consumers like the idea of having one provider for all three smart home categories, particularly for the convenience of bill and service provider consolidation, such as their cable or telephone provider. However, for 'Environmental Control' or 'Security-related' smart home technologies, they do not believe that a cable or telephone company would have the experience, or established equipment and technology to provide such services."

Diane O'Neill, Director, UXIP, added: "Smart Home interest is rising fast. It can provide convenience and efficiency around the home; the idea of cutting costs and creating a more resourceful and safe personal environment is hugely appealing. However, it is imperative to establish partnerships to reassure consumers of credibility and expertise with this kind of service provision. By far the quickest way to achieve this is through partnering across industries, for example a telecoms provider with British Gas or San Diego Gas, to ensure a sense of knowledge, expertise and trust is established in all areas of smart home service."

The study can be found here: http://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=saservice&a0=94#0