Parks Associates Blog

Parks Associates is supporting the Broadband World Forum Asia 2011

2011-04-28T09:36:00.003-05:00

Parks Associates is supporting the Broadband World Forum Asia 2011, taking place May 10-11, 2011 in Malaysia.

Back by popular demand, the 6th Broadband World Forum Asia brings together 2500+ attendees from across the region making it the most respected event in the Asian telecoms calendar. Featuring an all new operator case study led programme, the event will be packed with deployment experiences from across the region and includes 150+ visionary speakers, 50+ sponsors and exhibitors and 50+ operator presentations and case studies. Furthermore, Broadband World Forum Asia will be co-located with the 7th Annual ip&tv Forum Asia, the region’s leading event connected IP and hybrid TV, making it the perfect place to network, meet customers and suppliers face to face and learn about new industry developments from some of the top companies in Asia.

For your free exhibition pass or early booking conference discount please go to www.broadbandworldforum.com/asia and quote VIP Code: BBWFA11ITD

For more information, please click here.

Parks Associates is Supporting the ATA 2011 Meeting

2011-04-12T09:28:00.000-05:00

Parks Associates is supporting the ATA 2011 Annual Meeting. The meeting will take place May 1-3, 2011 in Dallas, TX.

The ATA Annual Meeting is the premier educational and networking event for individuals involved in health technology and remote medical services. ATA 2011 is a forum for reaching the world's largest gathering of telehealth professionals--over 3500 researchers, clinicians, administrators, technicians and entrepreneurs, all focused on the development of telemedicine. It is the single most important telehealth event of the year!

For more information, please click here.

Parks Associates to Moderate a Session at Broadband Properties Summit

2011-04-12T09:11:00.001-05:00

Parks Associates is supporting Broadband Properties Summit. The summit will take place April 26-28 2011 in Dallas, TX.

Harry Wang, Director, Health & Mobile Product Research, Parks Associates is moderating the session, “Advances in Broadband-Enabled Telemedicine and Telehealth" on Wednesday, April 27.

Bill Ablondi, Director of Home Systems Research, Parks Associates is presenting during the session, "Editor’s Choice Track: Energy Management: The Smart Grid, and Being Smart on the Grid Date" Wednesday, April 27 from 3:20 PM – 4:20 PM.

The Broadband Properties Summit is the leading venue for information on digital and broadband technologies for buildings and communities. With a focus on residential properties, developments and municipalities, the Summit has become a must-attend event for network builders and large-scale and wholesale buyers and users of broadband technologies, equipment, and services. More Info

New Blog Address

2011-03-25T16:34:00.001-05:00

Thank you for following the Parks Associates Analyst Blog. We look forward to you joining us at our new blog address. Please click here to be re-directed to the new site.

Thank you again!

President of Parks Associates Will be Speaking at the IPTV World Forum 2011

2011-03-16T15:36:00.000-05:00

IP&TV World Forum will take place on March 22-24, 2011 in Olympia, London.

Stuart Sikes, President, Parks Associates will be chairing the "Networked Home" part of the Network Optimization track on Tuesday, March 22nd at 11:30 AM.

Now in its 7th year, the IP&TV World Forum continues to evolve with the industry to reflect the central issues of connected TV solutions and hybrid TV business models. This year IP&TV World Forum brings a greater emphasis on TV business strategies, with a new track focusing content acquisition and management, pricing and advertising. The deployment of IP in the cable market and the rise of connected TV is again core coverage, whilst optimizing the home and network for IP video is covered in depth in a specific track.

For more information, please click here.

3D VOD Streaming from Samsung, Parnership with DreamWorks comes to life

2011-03-16T14:17:00.012-05:00

The much anticipated 3D video streaming service from Samsung has been given a green light, back home, in South Korea. This service will bring a partnership with DreamWorks Animation, and will breathe new life into 3DTV viewing.

Uncertain as to what content will be released, and when, most likely movie trailers, children's educational films, and music videos, will be streaming first in the 3D application, via Samsung’s Smart TV platform. On the downside, the U.S. and Europe will have to wait their turn for this VOD rollout.

For the rest of the world, this new 3D video streaming service will trickle down the line, and will eventually be available all across the globe.

Time Warner Cable's TWCable - Live Cable Channels on the iPad

2011-03-16T09:23:00.004-05:00

Although our report Television Services: Global Outlook (2nd Edition) cited a few international examples of "TV Everywhere" services incorporating live streams (CJ HelloVision in South Korea is the most prominent), we hadn't found one U.S. operator deploying such a service. However, Time Warner Cable yesterday launched TWCable, an app for the iPad that allows subscribers to stream a number of live cable channels to the tablet computer. Our research - including the recent Digital Video: Three Screens and Beyond - finds that one-third of consumers age 18-34 are highly interested in the ability to watch live TV streams via the iPad.

Stores can't keep Apple's iPad 2 in stock, crowds flock to buy them

2011-03-15T15:54:00.007-05:00

The latest version of the iPad, the iPad 2, is thinner, lighter and more powerful than its predecessor. It has added a camera, in the front and back, for video conferencing, taking photos and video. And within hours of its introduction at Apple stores nationwide, the iPad 2 sold out. While consumers know there’s more than one way to buy electronic devices, Apple’s online store was estimating shipping delays of three to four weeks, for all modifications of the iPad 2.

Have no fear, for the iPad 2 is also being sold by retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart. Although supplies were tight there, it is also being sold at Apple's wireless-carrier partners, AT&T and Verizon Wireless, as well. It retails between $499 and $829.

Please click here to read the full article.

3G subscribers will double over next five years, with global 3G+ tablet sales to exceed 68 million by 2015

2011-03-15T09:19:00.003-05:00

Parks Associates forecasts more than 68 million of the 126 million tablets sold worldwide in 2015 will have 3G or greater technology. The research firm's latest report Mobile Broadband & Mobile Computing Devices shows 29% of the 16.5 million tablets sold in 2010 featured embedded 3G technology, while tablets with 3G/4G technology will account for over one-half of all tablets sold in 2015.

Consumer demand for mobile data will increase further as carriers continue to deploy 3G and 4G networks around the world, enabling better user experiences and opening new markets to reliable mobile Internet access. 3G subscribers will double over the next five years to account for 47% of total mobile subscribers in 2015, with an additional 5% of mobile subscribers receiving 4G service. The ability to turn this growing data usage into revenue will be the key challenge for carriers going forward.

Carriers need to optimize network performance, be selective about subsidizing mobile platforms, and monetize Wi-Fi assets in order to stay profitable. Additionally, carriers need to offer more pricing options with flexible rules to fit consumers’ access needs.

Comcast Introduces Xfinity Signature Support

2011-03-14T10:26:00.004-05:00

Comcast Corporation recently announced the launch of a new 24x7 technical support and equipment protection program for the growing number of home electronics devices – like laptops, home networking equipment, gaming consoles, Wi-Fi enabled smart phones and tablets – people are connecting to Comcast’s services. Called Xfinity Signature Support, this service offers customers a single source for troubleshooting and support for their computers, home networks and many other devices and is another step in the company’s focus on delivering an end-to-end exceptional customer experience backed by the Comcast Customer Guarantee.

The new offering enables customers to select an enhanced level of technical support with monthly subscription plans and one-time support options and is offered in addition to the 24x7 support Comcast already provides for its video, high-speed Internet and phone services.

According to a 2010 survey by Parks Associates, more than 50 percent of Americans with Internet service look to their broadband provider as their first or second choice in solving their home computer-related technical issues. Additionally, 75 percent of those surveyed prefer to receive all of their technical support services from a single vendor.

With Xfinity Signature Support, Comcast customers will have access to knowledgeable and experienced IT specialists who can provide supplementary technical support online, over the phone or in the home. Assistance is available either as part of a monthly subscription plan or on a stand-alone basis for one-time fixes, such as virus removal or connecting printers or game consoles to wireless networks. Xfinity Signature Support also offers extended equipment plans covering computers and flat-panel TVs.

For more information, please visit www.xfinity.com/signaturesupport.

Nintendo® Plans new 3D Super Mario Game, Announces AT&T, Netflix Collaborations

2011-03-10T14:28:00.012-06:00

Nintendo is getting ready to launch a new Super Mario 3D game for its Nintendo 3DS portable system. Not only are they going to be announcing this new game, but they are also going to be announcing two upcoming collaborations. The first will be with AT&T, that will allow game users access to over 10,000 Wi-Fi Hot Spots. While some consumers will be enjoying the wireless connection, Netflix members can also enjoy streaming both movies and other content on their Nintendo 3DS systems.

Nintendo 3DS is scheduled to launch, in the U.S., on March 27. It will be retailing for a suggested price of $249.99. One of its most interesting features is that it gives users the ability to view 3D content without the need for special 3D glasses. The new Super Mario 3DS game will feature the traditional Mario™, and is expected to bring true depth and distance to the game experience. This new game was created by the same team that created Super Mario Galaxy™ and Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the Wii ™.

Nintendo plans to provide their 3DS owners with a wireless system update that will activate the Nintendo eShop, allowing users access to additional features. This update feature will be provided to users at the end of May. It will also provide solutions for Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™ owners to transfer their Nintendo DSiWare games to the new Nintendo 3DS systems.

For the full article, please click here.

Video Interview with Parks Associates' President at CES 2011

2011-03-10T11:31:00.005-06:00

Stuart Sikes, President of the research firm Parks Associates, sits down with V3.co.uk at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show to discuss the state of the consumer electronics industry and the developments that could take place in 2011.

Click here to see the full video interview with Stuart.

Amazon prepares to launch Android app store

2011-03-09T15:15:00.008-06:00

Amazon is expected to launch a mobile app store soon, in an attempt to compete, head-on, with Google's Android Marketplace. A number of Amazon's developers have already submitted some apps to its Appstore Development Portal.

Amazon has also created a Developer Blog and a Twitter account, to promote this launch. Amazon has even have made video postings on YouTube, explaining how to submit apps to its online store.

Rumors indicate that consumers will be able to buy Android apps, from Amazon, on computers, as well as, smart phones and tablets, running Google's Android OS. For Amazon account holders, app purchases will be made using the same account they currently use to make online purchases. To read the full article, please click here.

Panasonic shares details on new TVs, Blu-rays, audio gear

2011-03-07T11:58:00.016-06:00

Panasonic revealed the pricing of the new iPod/iPhone-docking compact audio systems and new soundbar in its 2011 audio lineup, and revealed more details about a variety of new features and technologies available for the first time on its new 3D Blu-ray HTiBs.

All four compact systems are thin, vertically-oriented single-chassis models, that range from 2.5 to 2.75 inches deep, of which two of the models can be wall-mounted. These four new compact systems, as well as, the three new 3G Blu-ray HTiBs, are the company's first products of its kind to take in music in PCM digital form, from a docked iPod/iPhone to improve sound quality. Meanwhile, two of four new docking compact stereo systems are the company's first with ability to select favorite Internet radio stations for playback, via the systems' included IR remote. Three of the four compact audio systems incorporate AM/FM tuner and MP3-CD players which retail between $99 and $199. The fourth system lacks CD-tuner, and retails for a suggested price of $179. Unfortunately, Panasonic's oversight in providing access to Internet radio in two of its systems leaves users having to pay $1.99 for a vTuner app that accesses Internet radio stations via Apple devices' embedded Wi-Fi radio. The music is then streamed to the compact systems via stereo Bluetooth.

The new soundbar, the SC-HTB520, features wireless outboard subwoofer, one 3D-capable HDMI 1.4 input, an HDMI 1.4 output with audio return channel, built-in Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 decoders, and Dolby Virtual Speaker to create virtual surround. The SC-HTB520 features a taller, thinner subwoofer, with downfiring driver.

Panasonic's new DVD HTiB launch is bringing 2D-to-3D conversion to the company's Blu-ray HTiB line, and offering a 3D Effect Controller for the first time. The 2D-to-3D conversion converts 2D video on DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and SD Cards to 3D. The new HTiBs upconvert streaming video-on-demand services to full 1080p, feature built-in WiFi, and allows users to customize the Blu-ray homescreen.The base price of a 3D-equipped HTiB retails at a suggested price of $399 to $499 The top two models priced at $499 and $599 priced are the company's first HTiBs with HDMI inputs. They are also the first two Panasonic HTiBs with optional Skype video chat. All three HTiBs feature 5.1-speaker systems, 1,000-watt outputs, faster loading integrated Blu-ray players, HDMI 1.4a input with audio return channel, and Cinema Surround Plus.

Please click here to read the full article.

Parks Associates releases New White Paper - Consumer Research and Femtocells

2011-03-03T14:46:00.003-06:00

Parks Associates recently released a new white paper, U.S. Consumer Attitudes on In-Home Mobile Services and Femtocells.

The consumer research and analysis described in this white paper were commissioned by the Femto Forum on behalf of its members. The Femto Forum is a not-for-profit membership organization founded in 2007 to promote femtocell deployment worldwide.

Femtocells are small cellular base stations that improve in-building signal coverage by integrating existing core mobile networks with broadband infrastructure. This white paper addresses highlights from the study that determined consumer perceptions and interest in in-home mobile services and femtocell solutions.

Director of Research at Parks Associates to Speak at the Verizon Enhanced Communities Executive Summit

2011-03-02T08:00:00.008-06:00

The Verizon Enhanced Communities Executive Summit will take place March 16-18, 2011 in Chantilly Virginia.

John Barrett, Director of Research, Parks Associates is presenting new consumer research during the session “FiOS Forward” on Thursday, March 17 at 9:30 AM ET.

Join us at this event as the event highlights how Verizon’s $24 billion fiber optic network, Verizon FiOS, can transform your properties and help meet your goals of higher occupancy, improved retention, increased property value and customer satisfaction.

For more information, please click here.

Consumers not ready to embrace cloud-based digital locker solution for music and video

2011-03-01T10:28:00.003-06:00

The industry is rapidly moving content solutions to the cloud, but consumer interest is not keeping pace, as less than 30% of U.S. broadband households find the digital locker an attractive alternative for music or video.

Cloud Media and the Digital Locker, a new report from Parks Associates highlights the challenges within the industry, including device and format interoperability, consumer awareness, and security and delivery issues. Market fragmentation is also a major inhibitor, and efforts including Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem's (DECE) UltraViolet initiative and Disney’s Studio All Access aim to overcome these barriers.

The benefits of cloud services are popular with consumers, indicating significant market potential. Access via mobile devices is important, and over 50% of U.S. consumers consider multiroom access to music and video content and guaranteed replacement of lost or damaged media to be equally important features of the digital locker.

Cloud Media and the Digital Locker examines how key players from content owners and distributors to platform and technology solution providers are tailoring their cloud-based solutions to include secure delivery, high quality, and ubiquitous access models.

What "Cloud Computing" Could Mean to Consumers

2011-02-28T13:58:00.003-06:00

"Cloud" is such a buzz phrase today that it's easy to be overwhelmed by what's really happening on the consumer side. Parks Associates specifies the following requirements for a product or solution to fit in the "personal cloud" category:

• For hardware, appliance, and online solutions, the ability to upload all desired content to remote storage, not just a single-purpose site

• The ability to "push" - or share - only specific folders or files with friends or family

• Remote and ubiquitous access to content from multiple IP-connected devices

• For premium content service cloud offerings, the ability to offer multiple formats or work with hardware with the necessary transcoding capabilities to play content on a wide number of devices

To further complicate this market, there are several different types of consumer cloud solutions...

To read more about the What "Cloud Computing" Could Mean to Consumers, subscribe to Parks Associates' Parks Points.

Click here to subscribe to other Parks Associates complimentary newsletters.

Trends We Are Expecting to See in 2011 and Beyond

2011-02-24T14:52:00.003-06:00

Connected products:

One popular theme among the products displayed at CES was the ability to be connected, whether to the Internet, other products, or a consumer’s smartphone. There were numerous products at CES that were designed to be part of a network, with the goal of delivering more useful, efficient, and compelling customer experiences. The television is one product that’s undergoing a major transformation, with virtually every TV manufacturer at CES displaying their web-connected televisions. These products have the ability to stream content and access applications such as Netflix, Pandora, and games.

The living room isn’t the only room that’s becoming more connected; the kitchen is also being overhauled to be “smarter” for consumers. Appliances in the near future will be able to take stock of the food in the kitchen, present meal suggestions based on those ingredients, and even guide consumers through the cooking process.

A new meaning of “green”:

Eco-friendly certainly isn’t a new product trend, but manufacturers are shifting the meaning of “green” to focus more on energy-efficiency than in the past.

Appliance manufacturers such as LG and Samsung are offering solutions that help consumers determine the best time to run their appliances. Panasonic’s version goes so far as to include solar panels, home fuel cells, an electric vehicle (EV) charging station and energy storage units.

Continued focus on digital health:

The digital health movement continues to move forward with products that marry cutting edge technologies with the growing need for medical devices that help consumers manage their health more actively and dynamically. Medical devices are becoming more and more like consumer electronics devices, with many wearable, mobile medical products already or soon to be on the market. Examples include smartphones that double as heart rate monitors and watches that have GPS locators to help keep track of elderly loved ones. There were also numerous therapeutic and diagnostic devices, medication monitoring equipment, and robotic prosthetics on display.

-- Content submitted by Home Toys

Disney Acquires Kids' Social Network, Togetherville

2011-02-24T11:43:00.003-06:00

Togetherville, a social network for for families to create safe online neighborhoods for their children under 10 years old, has confirmed that it was purchased by Disney according to Mashable.com. It sets itself apart from other social networks for children by facilitating parent-child interactions.

Togetherville mimics adult social networks in a kid-appropriate way. Each neighborhood is built around each specific child and remains closed to outsiders. Kids have their own profile pages, complete with their photos. In Togetherville, kids can

play games and brainteasers
watch videos
create artwork
send and receive gifts
update their status with pre-screened text phrases, called "quips," such as "Who is going to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid?" and "Aced the test. Oh yeah!!"
send "safe" messages to friends
and comment on or "Heart" their friends' activities.

All achieved with active participation from friends and family. You and your child build the neighborhood by creating an account on Togetherville.com. You sign in with your Facebook login - no need to create a new username or password. Togetherville automatically finds your Facebook friends and their children who already have Togetherville, and you easily build your child's neighborhood from there. You can "allow" specific friends to become part of your child's neighborhood or invite others in who may not already have Togetherville accounts.

Parks Associates Analyst Speaking at CableLabs Winter Conference

2011-02-24T09:00:00.004-06:00

Bill Ablondi, Director of Home Systems Research, Parks Associates is presenting during the session "Competitive Assessments" on Tuesday March 1, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM ET.

The CableLabs Winter Conference will be taking place from February 28th to March 2nd in Atlanta, Georgia.

Twice a year, during the summer and the winter, CableLabs hosts members-only conferences which provide attendees with current information about changing technology and supporting business and strategy objectives, as well as providing a forum for them to interact with each other. Attendees receive information from cable experts, including the CTOs and CEOs of the industry's leading operators.

For the event website, please click here.

Parks Associates hosts "Social Gaming" Webcast - FEB 24

2011-02-22T10:41:00.004-06:00

Join Parks Associates on Thursday, February 24th at 1 PM CENTRAL for the webcast, SOCIAL GAMING, and examine the current state of the social gaming industry and its business models.

Parks Associates research finds:
-- More than 200 million people play games on Facebook every month
-- 64% of U.S. broadband households with an Internet-connectable game console have it hooked to the Internet, a major increase from 2007, when only 25% had their next-gen console connected
-- PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have higher connectivity rates among the current generation of consoles, showing the power of multimedia offerings and popular game franchises in getting gamers online

Pietro Macchiarella, Research Analyst, Parks Associates will feature analysis and forecasts from examining:
-- How are social gaming publishers monetizing their popular games?
-- Are these companies at the mercy of social networks, or are they capable of developing brand loyalty?
-- Are open platforms, free distribution, and low development costs creating low entry barriers to this market?

Click here for registration information.

Parks Associates CEO Presenting at CABA's Digital Home Forum

2011-02-16T08:00:00.002-06:00

CABA Digital Home Forum will take place in St. Paul, Minnesota on February 17, 2011.

Tricia Parks, CEO, Parks Associates will be presenting on the session, Connected Home Roadmap on Thursday, February 17 from 10 AM - 10:45 AM.

CABA’s Digital Home Forum, hosted by 3M, will bring together leading companies dealing with integration of consumer electronics and other cutting-edge technology throughout the home. Attend the forum to learn about current trends in the digital and connected home from a wide range of companies working in this space and explore future research opportunities.

Members of CABA’s Connected Home Council will share their research and insights, along with details about their current activities. Forum participants will be encouraged to openly discuss the research strategies as they relate to the industry and their respective organizations.

For more information, please click here.

Verizon NFL Mobile, Sprint Navigator, and Vodafone’s MusicStation among popular mobile content services

2011-02-15T09:12:00.003-06:00

Almost 50% of U.S. mobile phone users pay for mobile Internet access, and the popularity of mobile data services will continue to grow revenues for carriers. Percentages of paying consumers are even higher for smartphone owners: 95% pay for SMS, 92% pay for Internet access, 83% pay for mobile email, 63% pay for mobile navigation, and 43% pay for mobile video.

In Mobile Data: Analysis and Forecasts, Parks Associates analysts forecast mobile data services, including messaging, Internet, apps, entertainment services, and machine-to-machine (M2M), will generate $500 billion in global revenues for mobile carriers in 2015, up from $204 billion in 2010.

Popular mobile content services include Verizon NFL Mobile, Sprint Navigator, China Mobile’s mobile newspaper service, and Vodafone’s MusicStation service. Carriers will derive most data revenues from access services, and content services, including mobile music, videos, games, ringtones, apps, and navigation, will supplement mobile access data services.

Global mobile carriers are poised to take advantage of consumers’ strong appetite for communications, information, and entertainment content on their mobile devices, but they must adapt to maximize these revenues in this hypercompetitive market.

Carriers must compete with their traditional peers as well as content owners, developers, and distributors, who can circumvent a carrier's ecosystem to offer content or services through app stores or on the mobile Internet. The old walled garden is porous due to disruptive forces such as Apple’s integrated business model. To stay relevant and dominant, carriers must focus on making their networks the most attractive option for content delivery and distribution.

Parks Associates is supporting Mobile World Congress

2011-02-13T09:00:00.001-06:00

Parks Associates is supporting the Mobile World Congress on February 14-15 2011 in Barcelona.

The mobile ecosystem is in the midst of an unprecedented wave of transformation. As business models adapt, new verticals and players emerge. Technology evolves, perceptions shift, and lives are improved.

At the centre of this transformation is GSMA Mobile World Congress, the must-attend annual gathering of the mobile industry. Our participants - 50,000 senior mobile leaders from 200 countries - enable, accelerate and direct this transformation, leading us into the Mobile Future.

For the event website, please click here.