Pandemic, Price Cuts Boost Smart Home Devices: Parks

The COVID-19 pandemic set new smart home expectations and behavior, said Parks Associates analyst Jennifer Kent, opening the virtual Connections conference Tuesday. Familiarity with and positive consumer attitudes toward technology rose since March 2020, Kent said. Some 34% of consumers own a core smart home device, she said. New households are getting smart home devices, and existing ones are building out their collections, she said. Kent cited service and subscription price declines over the past couple of years as “absolutely necessary to attract a more mainstream buyer.” Telehealth benefited as consumers have new concerns of health and wellness, and they’re becoming more comfortable connecting virtually with healthcare professionals, said Kent. Fragmentation, though, slowed smart home adoption, said Kent. Rebranding Project Connected Home over IP as Matter (see 2105110076) could help. With support from Amazon, Google, Apple and Samsung, broadband leader Comcast and IoT companies, she said, “this particular alliance may have the backing” and marketing to “achieve that ever-elusive promise of interoperability.”