2013/09/27 Over-the-top home automation services gaining popularity with service providers

Campbell, CALIFORNIA, September 26, 2013—Market research firm Infonetics Research released excerpts from its 2013 Home Automation Service Strategies: Global Service Provider Survey, which takes an in-depth look at the latest trends in home automation and control services offered via a broadband or mobile connection to the home.

“One of the more interesting trends we’re seeing in the home automation market is the concept of a provider offering services to end customers over another operator’s broadband connection,” notes Jeff Heynen, principal analyst for broadband access and pay TV at Infonetics Research. “Verizon has been experimenting with trials of over-the-top (OTT) home automation services as a way to secure revenue from out-of-market customers.”

“Our latest home automation study supports this trend: By 2015, the percentage of operators offering OTT home automation services more than doubles,” Heynen reports. “With Verizon functioning as the guinea pig for out-of-market and over-the-top home automation services, other operators clearly believe these services can be delivered outside their incumbent markets.”

• Over 70% of the operators participating in Infonetics’ survey will offer home automation services by the end of 2013
• Consumer education is a deployment challenge for an overwhelming majority of survey respondents
• Broadband providers are increasingly competing with established home security companies: The bulk of those surveyed plan to offer home security services by 2015
• Respondent operators view iControl as the top home automation equipment and software supplier, followed by 4Home, Cisco, Control4 and Huawei