Reuters

Geekatoo Executive Chairman Christian Shelton saw demand for tech services rising as more people add internet-connected devices - such as the smart thermostat Nest or WiFi camera Dropcam - to their homes.

The U.S. tech support industry makes about $30 billion in annual revenue, according to research by Parks Associates, a consulting firm.

From the article "On-Demand Tech Support Companies HelloTech, Geekatoo Merge" by Heather Somerville.

According to market data (Parks Associates 2015), global OTT video subscription revenues are forecasted to increase from $9 billion in 2014 to $19 billion in 2019.

From the article "BRIEF-Net Insight enters OTT market" by Reuters.

Monitoring devices for the elderly started with products like privately-held Life Alert, which leapt into public awareness nearly 30 years ago with TV ads showing the elderly “Mrs. Fletcher” reaching for her Life Alert pendant and telling an operator, "I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!"

Now companies like Nortek Security & Control and small startups are taking that much further.

The challenge though is that older consumers may not be ready to use the technology and their m ...read more

ADT's new ads come as telecom companies reduce advertising spending on their security products, according to a Morningstar report last month.

The threat remains, however. Telecommunication companies are taking more than 20 percent of new subscribers in the professionally monitored security market, according to market research firm Parks Associates. More broadly, 25 percent of all security systems installed in the last year were self-installed.

From the article "Backed by ...read more

Telecommunications companies are taking more than 20 percent of new subscribers in the professionally monitored security market, according to market research firm Parks Associates, even though many big firms only started selling widely in the past few years.

From the article "ADT faces skeptics as it expands security offerings to businesses" by Lewis Kraiskopf.

The “Evolution of the Smart TV” panel will be moderated by Barbara Kraus, director of research from Parks Associates. Panel participants include:

• Richard Bullwinkle, head of US television innovation, Samsung
• Michael Collette, CEO, Cognitive Networks
• John Honeycutt, chief operating officer, Discovery Networks International, Discovery Communications
• Gaurav Shah, vice president of marketing for Digital Entertainment Business Unit, Marvell
• Wendell Wen ...read more

Smart TVs, DVRs, smart thermostats, and other new connected devices are an emerging market for tech support services, according to Parks Associates' consumer research. Technical Support for Emerging Devices reports over 25% of U.S. broadband households value support service for at least one of these "emerging" devices, with 17% interested in support for multiple devices.

"Emerging" devices in this consumer study are specifically defined by Parks Associates as smart TVs, conn ...read more

Stuart Sikes, President, Parks Associates, will moderate the session"Home Automation: The New Revenue Generator?" at Cable Congress on Thursday, March 7, 9:30 a.m. in London.

New research from Parks Associates:

• 23% of U.K. broadband households have an electronic home security system.
• Less than 20% have one in France and Belgium, while only 6% of German households have a system.
• By 2020, the U.K. and Spain will have over 20 million smart meters.France and ...read more