Parks Associates releases New White Paper - Consumer Research and Femtocells

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.

Parks Associates presents new “Global Consumer Research on Femtocells” at Femtocells Americas

Harry Wang, Director, Health & Mobile Product Research, Parks Associates, will present key findings from a recently completed global study on femtocells on behalf of Femto Forum at the Femtocells Americas 2010 Conference during the session, “Global Consumer Research on Femtocells” on Tuesday, December 14th at 9:50 AM, in Miami, Florida.

Femtocells can have a major impact on consumer satisfaction and loyalty. Among U.S. consumers likely to change operators in the next 12 months, 44% were very likely to reconsider if their current operator offered a femtocell. The new research from Parks Associates reveals over 50% of U.S. broadband households find femtocells appealing.

The primary driver for femtocell interest is improved in-home coverage. Important secondary drivers include increased mobile handset battery life, faster mobile broadband, advanced femtocell services, and home-zone calling tariffs.

Caregivers and their concerns for chronically ill family members drive early market for home health monitoring services

Parks Associates' groundbreaking consumer survey Uptake of Personal Health Tools & Services reveals important consumer insights on personal health technologies. Almost 20% of U.S. consumers who care for an ill family member are willing to pay out-of-pocket for a home health monitoring service, almost double the number who would purchase the service for themselves, according to Parks Associates.

Uptake of Personal Health Tools & Services finds consumer motivations for adopting home health monitoring include concerns they will be unable to accurately measure and track their loved one’s vital signs. They also fear they will be unable to detect warning signs of health decline for their loved ones, and they see home monitoring as a good solution. Several wireless chronic care management solutions are already available, including MedApps, Ideal Life, WellDoc, and Generation One, which tap into this early market. Read the press release

Parks Associates hosts 'Trends in 3D TV' webcast, June 24

Join Parks Associates on June 24th at 1 pm CENTRAL for the Trends in 3D TV webcast. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about latest 3D TV consumer research and the business opportunities and implications for CE manufacturers, content creators, and service providers.

Pietro Macchiarella, Research Analyst will present analysis and forecasts from Parks Associates examining the following questions:

-- What challenges will 3D TV present within the digital content and CE ecosystem?
-- What opportunities will it offer?
-- What is the consumer mindset regarding 3D?

3D TV advocates are moving quickly to bring this technology to market, despite lingering skepticism of its mainstream viability. Several 3D services have launched in Europe and the U.S. (from industry heavyweights such as Sky, DirecTV, Comcast, and ESPN), and CE manufacturers are starting to deploy 3D-ready models at retail.

Click here for registration information.

Parks Associates to focus on opportunities in digital media & connected CE at CONNECTIONS™ Europe

Parks Associates announced the agenda for CONNECTIONS™ Europe: Monetizing Connectivity and User Experiences, which the international research firm will host on April 27, 2010, in Amsterdam.

CONNECTIONS™ Europe is the leading executive summit featuring European and international consumer research, top executives, and innovative companies in the digital living markets. The summit will examine business models and challenges related to digital media, including the potential of 3D video in the home, the role of value-added services in building ARPU, monetization of over-the-top content, and the challenge of pushing content to multiple connected CE, including smartphones and other mobile devices.

The preliminary agenda for CONNECTIONS™ Europe features the following sessions:
-- Bringing the Content
-- Extending the Video Experience to Multiple Screens
-- Controlling the Experience
-- Value-added Services & the Video Ecosystem
-- Mobile Video: The Cloud, the App Store & the Connected Home

CONNECTIONS™ Europe will feature Parks Associates’ expert consumer and industry research, with the company’s analysts presenting data from consumer research projects including All Eyes on Video, Consumer Decision Process, Residential Energy Management, and Digital Media Evolution.

Early sponsors for CONNECTIONS™ Europe, also members of Parks Associates’ Premier Program, include ActiveVideo Networks and PacketVideo. Visit www.parkspremier.com for more information on the Premier Program.

Visit www.connectionseurope.com for more information about CONNECTIONS™ Europe. The deadline for speaker submissions is March 1, 2010.

Parks Associates Research Findings

Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer examines the roadmap for the in-home energy management technology market, offering consumer and industry research and strategic insight. Parks Associates research finds:

· Over 80% of consumers are very interested in learning about how to cut their energy costs, but less than half want to learn more about smart grids.

· 80% to 85% of households are willing to pay $80 to $100 for cost saving equipment if they are guaranteed to save 10% to 30% off their monthly electricity bill.

· Only 15% to 20% of consumers are likely to sign up for time-of-use or demand response programs; 35% do not want utilities to control systems in their home no matter what the potential savings.

· Less than 5% of households have any type of electronic lighting system, but 55% are very interested in light dimming systems that can save them money.

View Agenda