Blog articles from 02/2012

EcoFactor and Comcast recently announced it they will create a new service that optimizes the heating and cooling patterns of a home and integrates with the Xfinity Home platform. By collaborating with EcoFactor, Comcast is further enhancing its Xfinity Home service and developing a new solution that, when available, can help customers potentially reduce their energy use and save money on their utility bills year round. EcoFactor's proprietary, cloud-based software incorporates real-time...

Written by Kurt Scherf, VP Principal Analyst, Parks Associates I thought that you might enjoy the e-mail conversation that a few of us were having yesterday regarding Pinterest. At our all-analyst meeting yesterday, I brought it up, and happened across a good Washington Post article on it. John Barrett, Director of Consumer Analytics I still don’t get it… you just collect photos of things you like? What’s the driver for looking at the photos other people have...

U.S. revenues for both consumer and SMB-oriented technical support services totaled $16 billion in 2011 and will double to roughly $32 billion by 2015. This is a huge opportunity for support service companies and service providers. Emerging service areas for both the consumer and the SMB markets include smartphone and tablet setup and configuration, particularly as businesses contend with the rising trend of "BYOD" (bring your own device). In addition to well-established brands...

New research from Parks Associates finds over 50% of U.S. broadband households want the ability to scan barcodes for product price and promotional information on their next mobile phone. The international market research firm's new whitepaper "Mobile Payment—Stepping into Uncharted Territory,” released ahead of this week's GSMA Mobile World Congress, reports 37% of U.S. mobile phone owners find the mobile wallet concept appealing, with interest highest among younger households...

Rogers Communications has started offering a combination whole-home PVR and TV Everywhere-style service based on Cisco's Videoscape architecture. Rogers' NextBox 2.0 service wraps together whole-home PVR; in-home streaming, via Wi-Fi, of more than 20 channels of linear TV to tablet computers; and a new interactive program guide. NextBox 2.0 will initially be available only in Ontario. Rogers will supply subscribers who opt for NextBox 2.0 with Cisco Explorer 8642 HD DVR and 4642 HD boxes...

The App Ecosystem researches apps across mobile & digital home CE platforms & analyzes the impact of cross-platform app development & distribution. The App Ecosystem is impacting the entire connected consumer value chain. Parks Associates’ new App Ecosystem Research Service focuses on apps across mobile and digital home CE platforms, analyzing the impact of cross-platform app development and distribution over a variety of business areas: Creation and distribution of new...

In the U.S., 135 million people play at least one hour of games per month (compared to 56 million in 2008). Most of the new gamers belong to more casual segments and have been attracted to the gaming world by smartphones, tablets, and social and free-to-play games.  New devices and monetization models have made it easier for more people from diverse segments to try and play games. Gaming on tablets is particularly popular among owners of these devices. 2012 will be a...

According to new research by Parks Associates, about 80% of U.S. gamers play either free-to-play online games or Facebook games. In the new whitepaper "Trends in Digital Gaming: Free-to-Play, Social, & Mobile Games" find out how smartphones and tablets are changing the gaming industry. The popularity of online games and digital distribution of games has increased along with the number of devices people can use to access and play videogames. This whitepaper examines the...