As cellular M2M (machine-to-machine) subscriptions climb to over 478 million in 2017, operators will adopt one of several key strategies to improve their position in the market, a new report recently opined. The report examines the developments in the cellular M2M market, providing in-depth country, regional, and application-level forecasts. Among the strategies operators may adopt:

• Mobile operators will simply sell airtime wholesale to MVNOs and resellers and have little or no additional involvement.
• Operators will create their own M2M platform, providing not only the network access, but also important connectivity capabilities.
• MNOs become the central point of contact. In this case, the MNO can take different steps to enhance its position in the value chain, while still depending heavily on partnerships.
• A complete end-to-end solution, requiring  strong vertical industry expertise to manage complete projects from sale, consulting, device design and manufacture, application development, integration, and service management.

For more content, see http://www.pyramidresearch.com/pr_prlist/operator-strategies-for-the-cellular-m2m-market.htm

Will Google Glass kill the smartphone? Reinvent gaming? Steal the second screen from tablets?  Probably not completely, and not all at once (since the device won’t be available to general public until 2014). But experts predict that the new product could be a game-changer similar to the iPhone: one that could send shockwaves across the entertainment, advertising, commerce, media, and gaming worlds. Take smartphones, for example. After observing a Google-released clip which showcases the digitally-enhanced headwear’s technological advancements, some industry players contend that if consumers take a shine to Glass the device would seriously challenge the smartphone for market dominance.

For further coverage, see http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/why-brands-are-already-looking-google-glass-and-why-apple-should-be-worried-147435

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are hot topics for 2013 and key areas of investment in the wireless ecosystem. One of the key reasons for this is that connecting machines, objects, or “things” represents a growing market opportunity for new devices, solutions, and services beyond traditional voice and data. A recently available study reports that the market outlook for M2M in 2013 appears positive, but there are also a number of challenges that must be overcome, including:

• How to cost-effectively manage and process big data from M2M communications and use that information to achieve business transformation.
• How will security of M2M be managed going forward? Are current safeguards sufficient?
• What should the industry do about the 2G GSM switch-off? Is an alternative bearer the answer?
• Will anyone wait for M2M standards, or will vendors go it alone?

For more information, go to http://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=pressreleaseviewer&a0=5327

New consumer research has found that 75% of households in the U.S. have at least one high definition television (HDTV), an increase of 23% in the past five years. Over that timespan, 52% of U.S. households have adopted HDTV, while 51% of these HDTV households have more than one HDTV. Overall, about 38% of domestic households now have multiple HDTV sets, a 12% jump from two years ago, and about 59% of televisions in HD households are HDTVs. Other related findings from this research include:

• Among households with annual incomes over $50,000, 84% have an HDTV, compared to 73% with household incomes of $30,000-$50,000, and 56% with household incomes under $30,000.
• Among those receiving HD programming from a cable, satellite, or Telco TV provider, the perceived mean number of channels of HD programming is 77, up from 63 two years ago, and 29 five years ago.
• About 6% of all US households currently have an HDTV set that is 3D-capable, although 41% of this group do not watch any content in 3D.
• Overall, 47% have seen a 3D TV, or have a 3D-capable TV, compared to 24% two years ago.
• 22% of all households purchased a new TV set in the past 12 months. The mean reported purchase price was $680 (about 30% less than five years ago).
• Among all households, 14% plan to purchase a new TV set in the next 12 months, compared to 19% last year, and 17% five years ago.

For additional coverage, see http://www.leichtmanresearch.com/press/020813release.html

Although both paid TV subscribers and cord-cutters are streaming online video content on a regular basis, TV Everywhere (services that enable cable and network customers to watch TV content on any Internet-connected device by authenticating their subscriptions) continues to lag in traction and consumer awareness. According to a new survey, pay-TV customers are more aware of the TV Everywhere services from networks like HBO than they are of the same services offered by pay TV companies. Only 37% of customers used TVE services from TV networks, and only 30% used them from pay TV companies. On mobile, usage of TVE is slightly more common through mobile apps vs. mobile websites. In addition, more survey respondents said they used TVE apps and mobile sites from pay TV companies than they did from TV networks.

For more content, see http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Will-TV-Everywhere-Satisfy-Streaming-Savvy-Consumers/1009633

A new FCC study measuring broadband speeds showed that Verizon’s FiOS and FTTH-based (fiber-to-the-home) broadband services delivered the most consistent speeds to its subscribers. The study was based on data collected last September, and examines the performance of various broadband mechanisms, including cable, DSL, fiber, and satellite. While previous FCC broadband reports measured Verizon’s FiOS FTTH, this is the first time the regulator included the telco’s “Quantum” tiers (50/25 Mbps and 75/35 Mbps) introduced last summer. Cablevision, which, like Verizon, uses cable and fiber separately to deliver services to consumers, also provided consistent speeds during download peak periods (Cablevision also leverages fiber-to-the-node [FTTN] architecture with their service). Verizon brings fiber directly into each home, leveraging the living unit’s existing coax cable to distribute services inside either an apartment or single family home.

For more details, see http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/quantum-tiers-keep-verizon-atop-fccs-broadband-speed-ratings/2013-02-15

The Internet of Everything (IoE) will one day be valued at $14.4 trillion, claims a recently released study. This figure is the result of increased revenues and lower costs created among companies and industries from 2013 to 2022. The five main factors that fuel IoE value are asset utilization (which accounts for $2.5 trillion), employee productivity ($2.5 trillion), supply chain and logistics ($2.7 trillion), customer experience ($3.7 trillion), and innovation ($3.0 trillion). Technology trends (including cloud and mobile computing, Big Data, increased processing power, and many others) and business economics are the main drivers of the IoE economy. These technology and business trends are ushering in the age of IoE, creating an unprecedented opportunity to connect the unconnected: people, process, data, and things. For example, 99.4% of physical objects that may one day be part of the Internet of Everything remain unconnected.

For additional coverage, go to http://www.cisco.com/web/about/ac79/docs/innov/IoE_Economy.pdf

The February 2013 edition of CrossTalk is now available. Painstakingly curated from hundreds, if not thousands, of weekly news and research articles, CrossTalk is your go-to compendium for all current Telicommunications market intelligence. If it happened in the past month, CrossTalk has you covered. Get the latest information and forecasting data, analysis of ongoing trends, and a handy calendar of upcoming industry events in one convenient package. Download or subscribe to CrossTalk today.

For more, go to http://www.actiontec.com/newsletter/february13/

According to a newly released report, iPad and other tablet video use by American consumers will rise dramatically over the next five years, driving significant changes in the business landscape for television and online/Over-the-Top (OTT) video. The study proceeds to examine the breakout sales success of iPads and other tablets and, combined with the incredible popularity of watching video on those devices, contends that a significant shift in American media consumption is underway. The report also forecasts that trends in tablet sales will result in 58 billion hours of TV and video being viewed on tablets in 2017, equal to 10% of all current TV, video, and OTT consumption. Meanwhile, 65% of U.S. households will own tablets at the end of 2017, creating new opportunities and challenges for content providers, TV networks, multichannel operators, and advertisers.

For more information, see http://tdgresearch.com/tablet-tv-and-video-viewing-estimated-rise-to-58-billion-hours-per-year/

The United States is evolving to the point where fixed telephones will function only as buzzers for apartments and homes. New research has found that wireless subscriptions have grown 165% from 2000 to 2011, totaling 290 million subscribers. This change will have serious revenue ramifications for telecom carriers, as few of them have significant exposure to the wireline segment and a further decline in this segment would create more pressure on the wireless segment. From 1990 to 2000, wireless penetration in America experienced rapid growth while wireline subscriptions grew steadily. However, from 2000 on, quickly developing cellular technology contributed to significantly lower cellphone ownership costs, resulting in a rise in wireless subscriptions at the expense of wireline subscriptions. However, the growth rate for wireless is slowing, and saturation may be reached in the next few years.

For further coverage, see http://seekingalpha.com/article/1217441-what-s-the-future-of-wireline-for-the-major-telecoms

The worldwide pay-TV market grew at a steady pace in 2012, generating $238 billion by end-of-year, up from $223 billion in 2011, and it is expected to generate $304 billion in 2018 with a CAGR of 4%. So notes newly available research, which also indicates that  IPTV is gaining market share year-over-year, while the rest of the pay-TV platforms are slowly contracting. IPTV service revenue market share increased from 10% in 2011 to 11.5% in 2012. Cable TV market share dropped to 47% in 2012 from 48.5% in 2011 while satellite TV market share dropped around 1%.

For more coverage, see http://www.abiresearch.com/press/iptv-providers-are-projected-to-take-an-18-share-o

A recently published study found that the global fixed broadband market (including DSL, cable, and fiber-optic services) generated $188 billion service revenue in 2012, a 7% increase from 2011. In 2012, fiber-optic broadband service revenue had its strongest year-over-year growth of 24%, while DSL and cable broadband grew 2% and 6% respectively. Fiber-optic broadband is expected to grow stronger than other platforms throughout the forecast period. In 2018, FTTH revenue should reach $81.6 billion, almost one-third of global broadband service revenue.

For additional information, go to http://www.abiresearch.com/press/global-broadband-service-revenue-to-reach-251-bill

A new whitepaper was recently published, covering how data analytics and thermodynamic modeling in the residential energy sector can combine to deliver continuous energy savings. The paper goes on to note that data analytics presents a new approach to address usage and savings problems in residential HVAC and energy, while connected devices and smart meters can validate actual savings from these smart systems.

For further information, go to http://www.parksassociates.com/whitepapers/data-analytics-wp2013

Young adults are more likely than others to use major social media, while, at the same time, other groups are interested in different sites and services. These results come from a national survey conducted between November 14 and December 9, 2012 on landline and cell phones and in English and in Spanish. The survey also found that Internet users under 50 are particularly likely to use a social networking site, and those 18-29 are the most likely to do so (83%). Women are more likely than men to be on these sites. Those living in urban settings are also significantly more likely than rural internet users to use social networking.

For additional content, go to http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Social-media-users.aspx

Consumers are interested in digital lifestyle offerings that combine a wide selection of services (telecommunications, cable, Internet, home security system and home energy management, etc.), and they are comfortable purchasing these services from one company, according to a recently published study. The report goes on to examine customer brand loyalty, and their propensity to subscribe to and preferences for combining their telecommunications, entertainment, and home energy management services from one provider. This kind of package is typically referred to as a digital lifestyle service package, and allows customers to digitally monitor and control aspects of their lives from their computer, smartphone, game console, or tablet.

For additional coverage, see http://www.jdpower.com/content/press-release/LPWIRhH/2012-digital-lifestyle-study.htm

New research finds that satisfaction with a carrier’s customer care service is higher among wireless customers subscribing to data-sharing service plans than it is among those subscribing to more traditional service and data plans. The study notes that overall satisfaction among full-service customers who currently subscribe to a mobile share data plan is 778 (on a 1,000-point scale), compared with 750 among those who subscribe to a more traditional service and data plan. While satisfaction levels among mobile share plan customers are higher across most of the customer service contact channels, the largest gap in satisfaction between shared data customers and non-share plan customers is in the customer service representative-only channel.

For more information, go to http://www.jdpower.com/content/press-release/lyD2xnz/2013-u-s-wireless-customer-care-full-service-performance-study-volume-1-and-the-2013-u-s-wireless-customer-care-non-contract-performance-study-volume-1.htm

All of us here at Actiontec hope you are enjoying the day off on Presidents’ Day like we are.

A new whitepaper was made available recently, seeking to provide insight into key trends and opportunities in the intelligent buildings industry. The paper states that 2012 turned out to be an interesting year for intelligent building systems. Despite the stagnating new construction market, increasing numbers of existing buildings upgraded their systems to reduce energy consumption. Meanwhile, many existing buildings also gained energy certifications such as Energy Star or LEED. The market for building analytics is still in the very early stages of development. Historically, larger buildings have been the cornerstone of the intelligent building market; however, 2013 could mark the turning point for intelligent solutions in smaller buildings.

For more content, see http://www.imsresearch.com/press-release/Trends_in_Intelligent_Buildings_2013&from=all_pr

With U.S. broadband customers set to equal the number of pay-TV subscriptions by 2016, American cable and satellite businesses have reached a critical point: their continued growth may well hinge on the success of their new TV Everywhere services. According to a newly available study, the challenge for traditional cable and satellite operators is the mounting penetration of broadband among U.S. consumers. U.S. broadband connections will expand to 99.9 million in 2016. This compares to 100.4 million for all cable, satellite and telco pay-TV subscribers during the same year. The report goes on to note that the growing ubiquity of broadband connections has leveled the playing field between OTT Internet-based video services and pay-TV operators, resulting in an evenly contested battle to provide consumers with the most attractive package of content, applications, and devices for their in-home and on-the-go enjoyment.

For more content, go to http://www.isuppli.com/Media-Research/News/Pages/Can-US-Pay-Television-Operators-Use-TV-Every-where-to-Stave-Off-the-OTT-Onslaught.aspx

In lieu of candies, cards, chocolates, and flowers, Actiontec instead would like to simply wish you and yours a Happy Valentine’s Day! Enjoy!

The skyrocketing demand for wireless data is a key driver in the growth of the information and communications industry, and a newly released report seeks to make sense of the near future of this vital segment. The report states that spending in the U.S. wireless market rose 10%, the largest increase since 2007. In 2012, the market benefited from double-digit growth in transport services and wireless handsets, as well as faster growth in wireless equipment and services in support of wireless equipment. Except for wireless handsets, each major category grew faster in 2012 than in 2011. The study expects that the dominant growth driver going forward will be the transformation of the market from primarily a voice service to primarily a data service, since voice and text messaging are declining while spending on wireless data is surging.

For more coverage, see http://www.tiaonline.org/resources/market-forecast

The healthcare industry should be of interest to European telecom providers due to the size of the market and the prospective migration of the industry’s IT infrastructure toward cloud-based solutions, proclaims recently released research. Telcos are well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for healthcare cloud services because they can offer the most comprehensive solutions, complementing cloud services with medical monitoring and mobile health applications. In addition, telcos can leverage their experience working with healthcare organizations and dealing with regulations and multiple compliance requirements. However, in developed markets, healthcare organizations will expect service providers to deploy comprehensive and integrated systems that combine communication services for medical and administrative staff.

For more information, go to http://www.pyramidresearch.com/pr_prlist/Europe-cloud-ehealth-strategies-press-release.htm

A new report maintains that emerging markets will continue to drive growth in the converged global communications, media, and technology industries. Total worldwide mobile subscriptions are expected to reach the 7 billion mark by December 2013, while growth in emerging market service revenue may well outpace growth in developed markets by a ratio of 5:1. Reaching the 7 billion mobile subscription mark by year’s end is particularly significant, the study indicated, because it translates to 100% penetration. Furthermore, mobile subscribers in the Africa and Middle East regions will surpass the 1 billion mark in the first quarter, making it the second region to reach this milestone (after Asia-Pacific).

For added coverage, see http://www.pyramidresearch.com/pr_prlist/2013-top-trends-press-release.htm

A new research paper was recently made available, and it predicts that 16% of broadband households in the world will have at least one smart home system by 2017. Increasing demand for the monitoring and control services offered by wireless carriers and broadband, energy, and security service providers, along with remote-enabled entertainment controls and smart appliances, will be the driving forces behind these households adopting smart home systems and services. The research also assesses the opportunity for other emerging smart home systems and services, such as digital health solutions, which offer professionally monitored home-based healthcare services, smart appliances, and devices such as surveillance cameras, motion sensors, and programmable communicating thermostats.

For more, see http://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=pressreleaseviewer&a0=5315

With consumers showing a surprising interest in (and a willingness to pay for) remote monitoring and control in addition to professionally monitored interactive security services, a new survey revealed that over 50% of broadband households without security are willing to pay for professionally monitored services if combined with monitoring and control capabilities. The publication also noted that consumers showed a significant willingness to pay for remote healthcare and energy management services, if they were priced reasonably. Potential adoption of smart home services is highest in the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Italy, while remote healthcare services have the greatest potential in Italy (with the caveat that fees are kept under $10 per month).

For more coverage, go to http://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=pressreleaseviewer&a0=5318

Infotainment options such as music streaming, connected navigation, and social networking dominated the connected car market in 2011 and 2012. Meanwhile, traditional safety and security telematics were largely ignored, although they are expected to make a comeback in 2013 due to growing awareness about their importance from consumers and governments alike. Penetration of factory-installed safety and security telematics shipping globally in new cars will reach 15.7% in 2013, according to recently released research. However, the telematics industry is shifting increasingly from reactive solutions to systems that can help avoid and prevent safety and security hazards, such as: 

• Driver behavior monitoring improving driving skills, reducing the risk of accidents.
• Insurance telematics/UBI as an incentive for safer driving.
• Prognostics and preventive maintenance avoiding break downs and reducing repair costs.

For more content, go to http://www.abiresearch.com/press/safety-and-security-telematics-installed-in-one-ou

The first significant shipments of the HomePlug AV2 and MoCA 2.0 standards will be seen in 2013, offering higher speeds as well as more robustness under different line conditions. However, not all devices shipped using the new standards will support the full set of features, so many will not offer gigabit speeds. A new study expects North American MoCA households to exceed 25 million by 2014 with similar numbers in Western Europe for Homeplug. While no new wires home networking solutions have gained significant traction from pay-TV operators, the pathway to stronger consumer mindshare will come through hybrid networking solutions, consumer education, and the retail market – which is increasingly becoming the focus of many companies operating in the market.

For further coverage, see http://www.abiresearch.com/press/home-networking-jumps-to-gigabit-speeds-as-moca-ho

A new report finds that among U.S. broadband households purchasing new devices, 81% set up a new tablet on their own, 72% set up a smartphone on their own, and 60% set up a new home network on their own. However, only 51% of these consumers overall would prefer the do-it-yourself (DIY) method on the next setup. Smartphones were the devices most commonly set up by broadband households over the past 12 months. Intuitive interfaces have boosted DIY setup on new devices, but a significant percentage of people prefer assistance. Meeting this demand through premium technical support services could provide outstanding growth opportunities for retailers, manufacturers, and service providers.

For additional information, go to http://www.parksassociates.com/blog/article/pr-jan2013-techsupport

New consumer research indicates that 54% of U.S. broadband households own a programmable thermostat, which can be an effective tool in reducing energy costs. However, only 44% of owners are confident that the device is programmed correctly. The recently released study explores new knowledge-based approaches that analyze household data to provide the optimum balance between cost savings and consumer comfort. A data analytics solution can reduce the runtime for an HVAC system by 36%, compared to the baseline condition. These new solutions can benefit utilities and consumers by maximizing performance of thermostats and homes, increasing cost savings, and optimizing demand-response programs.

For more content, see http://www.parksassociates.com/blog/article/chss-jan2013-analytics

The home area network (HAN) is seen as one of the last zones of technologies that complete the modern smart grid as envisioned by utilities and technology developers. The HAN leverages consumption information provided by smart meters, which deliver frequent and granular data and power quality measurements to HAN devices that can take advantage of the information–often resulting in both energy and cost savings for the consumer. Despite the benefits of HANs, adoption has been slowed by consumer indifference, the cost of new equipment, and evolving technology standards. A new research report examines the global market opportunity for HANs, exploring the drivers and inhibitors that are shaping the market, while also providing market forecasts through 2020.

For additional coverage, see http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/home-area-networks

The results of the first national survey measuring health data tracking, which has been shown to improve health outcomes, particularly among people trying to lose weight or manage a chronic condition, have been released. Among its findings, it revealed that 69% of U.S. adults track a health indicator for themselves or a loved one, and many say this activity has changed their overall approach to health. Other survey highlights:

• 60% of U.S. adults say they track their weight, diet, or exercise routine.
• 33% of U.S. adults track health indicators or symptoms, like blood pressure, blood sugar, headaches, or sleep patterns.
• 12% of U.S. adults track health indicators or symptoms for a loved one.
• 50% of trackers record their notes in some organized way, such as on paper or using technology, while 44% do so only in their heads.

For more information, go to http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Tracking-for-Health.aspx

In 2012, more than 300,000 patients were remotely monitored by their healthcare provider for congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, and mental health conditions worldwide. The majority of these patients were classified post-acute, having been hospitalised previously and then discharged. As healthcare providers seek to reduce readmission rates and track disease progression, telehealth is projected to reach 1.8 million patients worldwide by 2017, according to a newly available industry report. In addition to post-acute patients, telehealth can also be used to monitor ambulatory patients–those who have been diagnosed with a disease at an ambulatory care facility but have not been hospitalised. However, telehealth will have a much larger penetration in post-acute care as the majority of these patients are only considered for home monitoring following hospital discharge to prevent readmission.

For additional coverage, see http://in-medica.com/press-release/Telehealth_to_Reach_18_Million_Patients_by_2017

A new study suggests that 2013 will be the first year in which 100% of publishers will format their content for mobile devices. This development points to both digital’s essential role in media companies’ future profits, as well as the importance of mobile to consumers’ daily media lives. Mobile did not play a huge role in media companies’ circulation revenues in 2012, but that is expected to change by 2014, when over four out of 10 anticipated making at least 10% of their circulation revenues—excluding ad dollars—from mobile. One reason for this development is the proliferation of mobile platforms available to publishers, who increasingly see standalone smart device subscriptions, or higher-priced subscriptions for digital and mobile access, as new major revenue sources.

For more content, go to http://www.emarketer.com/Article/This-Year-All-Publishers-Go-Mobile/1009628

Professional reviewers may seem to have the last word on the worth of consumer electronics products, but their influence on purchase decisions may actually be weaker than the opinions of fellow consumers. A study of consumers who had recently made an electronics purchase found that shoppers were more likely to pay attention to consumer reviews than professional reviews across nearly every product category. Respondents favored consumer reviews by the greatest margin when buying headphones or earbuds, while shoppers were most likely to take a professional critic’s advice when buying a tablet. In the end, consumers may not be totally ignoring professional reviews, but they seem to believe that other consumers, even strangers, are more likely to have had the kind of hands-on experience with a product that is relevant to their own purchase decision.

For additional coverage, see http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Driving-Purchases-Customer-Reviews-Trump-Pro-Critics/1009625

Just three short years after the technology’s original deployment, worldwide LTE subscribers are projected to surpass the 100-million mark this year, an increase of 115% over last year, according to a recently compiled study. Since its debut in 2010 with just 612,000 users, LTE has grown by leaps and bounds, reaching 13.2 million subscribers in 2011. By 2012, LTE saw gains of nearly 600%, while some growth models show the possibility of the platform hitting the 1-billion worldwide subscriber mark in 2016, a five-year compound annual growth rate of 139%. The study goes on to note that while LTE is emerging as a true global technology standard, its ecosystem faces both challenges and opportunities that result directly from its staggering growth.

For more coverage, go to http://www.isuppli.com/Mobile-and-Wireless-Communications/News/Pages/Global-LTE-Subscribers-Set-to-More-Than-Double-in-2013-and-Exceed-100-Million.aspx

To the surprise of absolutely no one, new research suggests that tablet shipments are expected to easily exceed notebook computer shipments in 2013. In a market that up until now has been dominated by Apple, shifting market dynamics could be creating the opportunity for a greater variety of tablet choices, which are forecast to drive shipment growth in 2013 to 64%, year-over-year. The rapid development and adoption of new screen sizes is allowing both large and small brands to gain market traction in all regions and create new demand for tablets. The tablet market has been led by Apple’s 9.7″ iPad, but in 2013 small tablets are poised to take over the market, as tablets with 7-8″ screen sizes are expected to account for 45% of the market this year, overtaking the 9.7″ size (17% of forecast total sales).

For more information, see http://www.fiercemobileit.com/press-releases/tablet-pc-market-forecast-surpass-notebooks-2013-npd-displaysearch-reports?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

The use of connected TVs in U.S. households was up by more than 25% last year, and will continue to be taken up by Americans at double-digit rates through at least 2016, new research has revealed. An expected 35.1 million U.S. households will have at least one television connected to the Internet, the study goes on to note, and at least one person in the household will use the Internet through that TV set on a monthly basis. This means nearly a quarter of all U.S. households currently have and use connected TV, a share that will reach 30% by the end of 2013. In terms of individual users, penetration is somewhat lower: 17.4% of consumers used connected TV at least monthly as of the end of 2012, and 22.7% will do so by the end of this year.

For additional information, see http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Connected-TVs-Reach-One-Four-Homes/1009581

The January 2013 edition of CrossTalk is now available. Painstakingly curated from hundreds, if not thousands, of weekly news and research articles, CrossTalk is your go-to compendium for all current telco and broadband market intelligence. If it happened in the past month, CrossTalk has you covered. Get the latest information and forecasting data, analysis of ongoing trends, and a handy calendar of upcoming industry events in one convenient package. Download or subscribe to CrossTalk today.

For more, go to http://www.actiontec.com/newsletter/january13/

In a 4Q 2012 survey of broadband households in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK, more than 50% of broadband households without security were found to be willing to pay for professionally monitored services if combined with monitoring and control capabilities. The report also revealed consumers’ willingness to pay for remote healthcare and energy management services if the price was reasonable. The percentage of broadband households with the interest in and willingness to pay for selected connected home solutions will continue to grow in the near future, the report predicts, while widespread smartphone and tablet use will accelerate consumers’ desire to be connected to everyone and everything important in their lives, including their family and homes.

For additional coverage, go to http://www.ntca.org/new-edge/data/broadband-customers-more-likely-to-buy-security-systems

A recently released Google-funded survey finds that people who pirate also tend to buy the most content, a result that has been repeatedly shown to be fact. This latest survey also unsurprisingly found that the majority of those polled oppose throttling, blocking, or censoring of content by ISPs, search engines, and governments, though the results vary depending on age and how specifically the questions are worded. Support for search engine and ISP blocking is closely related to age: only 39% of 18- to 29-year-olds support requirements that search engines block sites, while 59% oppose them. Americans 65 and older, in contrast, support blocking by 59% to 31%.

For more, see http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/Another-Study-Pirates-Are-Industrys-Biggest-Paying-Customers-122852

A recently released report examined how Generation Y creates increasing loads of data while impacting everything from online shopping to mobile devices to corporate culture and workforce expectations. At the heart of this development is the smartphone and the constant connectivity it provides to work, entertainment, shopping, and friends. Gen Y members view smartphones as an indispensable part of their lives, and yet they are concerned about data management and Internet security. Over time, more and more people, devices, and things will be connected to the Internet, creating a virtual “Internet of Everything.” The Gen Y workforce looks to be very much at home in that future world.

For more, see http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns1120/index.html

An interesting statistic from a freshly commissioned survey surfaced recently: considerably more than half of consumers were interested in mobile payments. According to the survey, which involved 700 consumers from China, Japan, Poland, South Korea, Turkey, the U.K., and the U.S., fully 60% of respondents were either “very interested” or “interested” in a mobile phone app that could replace their bank card. The countries whose respondents were most interested were China, South Korea, Poland, and Turkey, respectively. This bodes well for the technology and applications such as mobile payments. With ISIS finally offering service in Austin, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah, and Google Wallet updating its offerings to include peer-to-peer payments, momentum is building in the coming year for mobile payment services.

For further information, go to http://www.imsresearch.com/press-release/60_Percent_of_Consumers_Interested_in_Mobile_Payments&from=all_pr

According to a published excerpt of a whitepaper due to be released in February 2013, 52% of consumers are partial to making purchases with a digital wallet, both online and in a physical store. The whitepaper also queried survey takers about which in-store method they prefer (44% chose PIN or password, while 22% selected tapping a phone at the register), and what kind of devices they might use when making purchases with a digital wallet (64% preferred a PC or laptop, compared to 46% who would opt for a mobile phone). These preliminary results suggest that while consumers are willing to change the way they purchase items, there still exists a wide array of preferences among potential users as to which purchasing method they favor, and which device they would rather complete the transaction on.

For more, see http://www.comscore.com/Insights/Presentations_and_Whitepapers/2012/2013_Digital_Wallets_and_Payments_Sneak_Peek

The increased popularity of HD and megapixel resolution security cameras has been a hot topic in the video surveillance industry over recent years, according to a recently released study on the subject. World shipments of megapixel resolution network security cameras are predicted to outsell standard resolution network security cameras in 2012 for the first time. Researchers, however, do not expect higher megapixel resolutions to be a mass-market trend. Instead, expect to see new technology developments and camera features that improve image quality to become the key battleground as manufacturers try to establish their own USPs. Other trends that may be on the upswing include improvements in mobile video streaming, and growth opportunities in India.

For additional coverage, go to http://www.imsresearch.com/press-release/Video_Surveillance_Trends_for_2013

From 2010 to 2011, usage of remote patient monitoring, or telehealth, increased by more than 22% as the number of patients enrolled worldwide reached nearly 250,000. However, telehealth device revenues only grew by 5% from 2010 to 2011, and 18% the following year. Recently available research attributes this slow revenue growth over the last year to poor economic conditions, leading to restrictions in healthcare funding (particularly in Europe) and ambiguity on the impact of healthcare reform and readmission penalties on telehealth. In the U.S., there remains uncertainty about the future of the healthcare market and the role of telehealth in this market throughout 2012.

For more information, see http://www.imsresearch.com/press-release/Healthcare_Reform_to_Boost_Growth_in_Telehealth_Market_by_55_Percent_in_2013

In 2012, landmark events such as the Summer Olympics and the U.S. presidential campaign created waves in the digital world, but other trends, like the evolution of social media and fast adoption of tablets, also made an impact on what the online world did—and how they did it. A newly available quarterly analysis explores key trends in Q3 2012, as well as what to watch for in 2013. Highlights include:

• In 1996, the U.S. made up over 66% of the world’s online population, but today, it only accounts for 12%.
• Facebook is a large source for attracting and targeting new users of online dating sites, serving up 38% of dating and relationship display ads.
• The Summer Olympics showed that tablet owners were more likely to interact with sports content than their smartphone counterparts.
• Even though the Instagram Android app was released later than its iPhone counterpart, 53% of app users came from Android by Q3 2012.

For additional content, go to http://www.comscore.com/Insights/Presentations_and_Whitepapers/2012/State_of_the_Internet_in_Q3_2012

Broadband access and service provision are the focus of most stakeholders in the telecom/ICT ecosystem. As the expansion of 3G and 4G networks illustrates, service providers continue to offer better and more efficient networks while providing new and secure applications. Demand for broadband services continues to increase, and mobile broadband plays a unique role in this expansion because mobile technologies often provide sole broadband access in many emerging regions. Therefore, it is no surprise that several governments and service providers have worked to improve spectrum management, licensing processes, and the availability of desirable spectrum. But investments in infrastructure, licenses, and spectrum are not the only elements that make broadband access and use a success. In fact, it is the level of demand for broadband connectivity and for broadband-based services and applications that will determine the speed of adoption of such services and the extent of their use.

For more, go to http://www.pyramidresearch.com/points/item/121219.htm

Recently compiled data extracted from new research showed that 182 million U.S. Internet users watched nearly 40 billion online videos in November 2012, while video ad views reached 10.5 billion. Google Sites, driven primarily YouTube.com, ranked as the top online video content property with 153 million unique viewers, followed by NDN with 55.7 million. Nearly 40 billion video views occurred during the month, with Google Sites again leading the way, followed by AOL, Inc. Not surprisingly, Google Sites had the highest average engagement among the top ten properties. Meanwhile, Americans viewed 10.5 billion video ads during the month, and time spent watching video ads totaled 3.8 billion minutes. These ads reached 53% of the total U.S. population an average of 64 times during the month.

For further coverage, see http://www.comscore.com/Insights/Press_Releases/2012/12/comScore_Releases_November_2012_U.S._Online_Video_Rankings

Operators are currently being extremely cautious with their video infrastructure spending, looking to horde their assets as much as they can, knowing that a spending spree looms on the horizon to support more unicast and multi-screen services, including RS-DVR, start-over, look-back, and streaming delivery to mobile devices. This according to new research recently made available. Other highlights:

• The forecast for the overall video infrastructure market sees growth to $1.1 billion by 2016, as operators worldwide migrate to MPEG-4 HD encoders to support higher picture quality using less bandwidth.
• For the quarter, VOD and encoder equipment revenue fell 3% in 3Q12 from 2Q12, with all regions declining by single digits.
• Following two consecutive quarters of declines, spending on VOD and streaming content servers grew 1.8% in 3Q12.
• The number of IPTV subscribers will nearly double between 2012 and 2016, from 83 million to 165 million worldwide.

For more information, see http://www.infonetics.com/pr/2012/3Q12-Video-Infrastructure-Market-Highlights.asp

According to a recently released study, as mobile saturation approaches, the mobile industry is shifting from voice to data.  SMS use is fading in places like Japan, the U.S., the Netherlands, and the U.K., in favor of free applications over mobile broadband that enable Internet browsing, email, and, more importantly, video. Those services may be free to subscribers, but handling the traffic is not free to the network operators. Service providers must spend billions of dollars to upgrade their networks to handle the skyrocketing traffic, or face network outages and subscriber turnover. In the end, it may come down to subscribers either being willing to pay a fair price for the services provided, or not.

For more, go to http://www.infonetics.com/pr/2012/1H12-2G-3G-4G-LTE-Services-and-Subscribers-Market-Highlights.asp

Coming on the heels of a 16% jump the previous quarter, WLAN equipment revenue grew another 6% quarter-over-quarter, passing the $1 billion mark for the first time, notes a newly available study. The usual demand drivers—wireless devices, BYOD, mobility—were the main propellants, but there was also an acceleration of carrier WiFi deployments, with sales of outdoor access points doubling over the past year. Other highlights:

• Global demand for WLAN gear is well-balanced, with three major regions (North America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific) seeing 20% year-over-year revenue growth.
• Interactive access point revenue grew strongly in 3Q12, as businesses moved to centrally managed WLAN architectures.
• The transition to 802.11n is coming to an end, with 84% of access points shipments now based on the standard; next-generation 802.11ac products will start shipping in the summer of 2013.

For further coverage, go to http://www.infonetics.com/pr/2012/3Q12-Wireless-LAN-Market-Highlights.asp

In 2012, a major milestone was reached in the Wi-Fi market: over 5 billion Wi-Fi enabled devices have shipped since the technology’s debut. Recent explosive growth has been largely driven by the smartphone and laptop markets, but future success will depend on Wi-Fi penetration into newer markets, such as connected home and automotive devices. Increasing data rates continue to be developed as tri-band solutions (2.4GHz / 5GHz / 60GHz) become a significant part of the market from 2014 onwards. While achieving higher data rates is a key focus for many in the market, Wi-Fi is also expanding its reach with developments to address a whole host of other interesting use cases, including mesh networking (802.11s), TV whitespace (802.11af), low-power sensor networks (802.11ah), and improvements to network management (802.11k).

For more information, see http://www.abiresearch.com/press/total-cumulative-wi-fi-enabled-device-shipments-re

Actiontec introduced its latest breakthrough product today: ScreenBeam. ScreenBeam takes whatever you’ve got on your computer, tablet, or smartphone display and seamlessly transmits to a nearby HDTV, without wires or noticeable lag, all in beautiful, sharp high-definition video and high-quality audio. Want to share those pictures you took on your smartphone? Or host a presentation without using a bulky and expensive projector? ScreenBeam has you covered. ScreenBeam works with your Windows 7 or 8 laptop computer, as well as devices that use Miracast™ or Intel’s WiDi 3.5 and up technology, so you’ll have a bevy of products to choose from when connecting to ScreenBeam. ScreenBeam is portable and easy to set up, too, so you can use it when traveling, or at home. Try ScreenBeam today!

For more information, see http://www.actiontec.com/products/view_news.php?nid=291#.UOsqsonjnas

As 2012 wraps up, a newly released white paper looks to the future of technology. Instead of simply concentrating on 2013, the paper tries to gaze out into the less immediate future and more heavily focus towards what will happen in increments of the next two, five, and ten years. Some of the questions the study tries to answer:

• What’s next for augmented reality?
• What’s the future of LTE and device form factors?
• Will 2013 be the year of the connected car?
• How will gaming markets extend beyond the console?
• What’s the prognosis for consumer and personal robotics?
• How will multi-platform approaches shape our TV viewing future?
• What are the stark choices service providers face?

For additional coverage, go to http://www.abiresearch.com/press/what-to-watch-for-in-2013-and-the-years-beyond

The population of e-book readers is growing. In the past year, the number of e-book readers increased from 16% of Americans ages 16 and older to 23%. At the same time, the percentage of those who read printed books in the previous 12 months fell from 72% of ages 16 and older to 67%. The move toward e-book reading, not surprisingly, coincides with an increase in ownership of electronic book reading devices. The number of owners of either a tablet computer or e-book reading device such as a Kindle or Nook grew from 18% in late 2011 to 33% in late 2012. As of November 2012, some 25% of Americans ages 16 and older own tablet computers such as iPads or Kindle Fires, up from 10% in late 2011. And by late 2012, 19% of Americans ages 16 and older owned e-book reading devices, compared with 10% who owned such devices at the same time last year.

For more, see http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2012/12/27/e-book-reading-jumps-print-book-reading-declines/

Low ARPUs, growing competitive threats, and rival multiscreen services are driving many pay-TV providers in Europe and Asia to explore new business strategies in video services, according to a new report. The research indicates multiscreen services now reach 66% of pay-TV subscribers in Western Europe, 21% in Eastern Europe, and 9% in Asia, compared to 90% in North America. Many pay-TV providers are now leveraging their multiscreen services to offer over-the-top (OTT) services to non-pay-TV subscribers. For example, the U.K. satellite provider Sky is offering Sky Go, which features live TV and on-demand content, to non-Sky TV customers via PCs, smartphones, and tablets, with monthly subscriptions at £15-£40.

For more coverage, go to http://www.parksassociates.com/blog/article/pr-dec2012-multiscreen

A new industry-specific whitepaper was recently released, detailing the evolution of the connected home as it develops increasing complexity, with a growing collection of CE devices, broadband-enabled services, and multifunction residential gateways joining the ranks. The paper maintains that devices and services must continually offer more: more functions, more speed, and more consumer benefits, and ultimately analyzes the factors impacting the connected home, leveraging industry and consumer expertise to determine the key trends of 2013.

For further information, see http://www.parksassociates.com/whitepapers/connected-home-wp2012

New consumer research has found that 52% of households in the U.S. that subscribe to a multi-channel video service have a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), compared to 4% of TV households that do not subscribe to a multi-channel video service. In addition, the study discovered that 43% of all households with a DVR now have DVR on more than one TV set. About 20% of all TV households now have DVR on more than one TV set, an increase from 6% five years ago. Other related findings include:

• 71% of Telco video subscribers, 63% of DBS subscribers, and 42% of cable subscribers, have a DVR.
• 81% with DVR on more than one TV set rate the service 8-10 (on a 1-10 scale with 10 being excellent) — compared to 73% with DVR on one TV set.
• 70% of all digital cable subscribers have used VOD — compared to 58% in 2007, and 25% in 2004
• Overall, 59% of digital cable subscribers, and 64% of Telco video subscribers, used on-Demand in the past month.
• 68% of VOD users who also have a DVR agree (8-10) that their TV service is better because they have both VOD and DVR.

For more, see http://www.leichtmanresearch.com/press/113012release.html

Actiontec Electronics today announced that its C1000A Wireless VDSL2 Modem Router has achieved BBF.069 CPE Certification, verifying that the device conforms with the TR-069 protocol for remote management. Actiontec, a longtime advocate for TR-069 remote management, is one of the early companies to pass the new BBF.069 CPE Certification Program, which was launched by the Broadband Forum in October 2012. TR-069 is a global remote management standard, recommended by the ITU-T and used to provision and manage Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) in the connected home. The standard lets broadband service providers remotely configure and troubleshoot devices in the home, resulting in lower operational costs and better customer service.

For additional coverage, go to http://www.actiontec.com/products/view_news.php?nid=290#.UOXQdI4QiS0

All of us here at Actiontec would like to wish all of you out there a grand and glorious Christmas and New Year’s. This past year has been a good and blessed one for us, and we hope it has been likewise for you. We look forward to seeing or hearing from you in 2013, which, as always, holds the promise for more good times and great conversations. Enjoy!

The Actiontec Team

The global market for home automation services saw strong growth during 2012, driven by a wave of new entrants and offerings in the North American market. The U.S. in particular leads in deployments and new shipments, acting as a leader for markets around the world. Even with the low growth U.S. economy and the struggling housing market, home automation systems installed in the U.S. this year almost doubled over 2011 shipments, according to a new study. In 2017, more than 8 million systems will ship, showing a CAGR rate of 45.2% between 2011 and 2017. In the U.S. over the past year, Verizon has rolled out its service offering, cable companies including Comcast and Time Warner have expanded their footprints, and security vendors including ADT and Vivint continued to see strong demand for their solutions.

For additional coverage, go to http://www.abiresearch.com/press/15-million-home-automation-systems-installed-in-th

Apple’s share of the tablet market continued to dominate all comers, with 55% unit shipment share in the Q3 2012, period, new research has uncovered. This places the iPad maker at the top of the tablet heap for 10 consecutive quarters. However, competition from tablets powered by Google’s Android OS are whittling away at Apple’s success, as the company’s current market share is at its lowest level since launching the iPad in 2010. Nearly 14% share was lost in the quarter to several other competitors, including Amazon, Google, and Samsung. Android now powers more than 44% of tablet shipments. As the OS of choice for the majority of device manufacturers, the Android ecosystem continues to grow in numbers, with new manufacturers, better device choices for reaching more markets, and more developers finding value from apps and content.

For more, see http://www.abiresearch.com/press/apple-maintains-lead-in-tablets-but-market-share-d

What does an operator do when its Telco TV service is struggling to make money, yet the company still sees a viable opportunity for its TV services? This new study explores one operator’s (Jazztel) decision to become a BPTV provider. Is the choice right for other operators? To find out, the study’s authors surveyed the digital home environment to establish what is (and what is not) in place to enable the delivery of broadband pay-TV (BPTV) services. Then, they examined technology solutions that work given the reality of today’s digital home, drawing on the lessons learned from Jazztel’s experience.

For more, see http://tdgresearch.com/examining-trend-from-iptv-broadband-pay-tv/

Newly released research finds that 13% of broadband subscribers (some 11 million households) do not subscribe to cable-like pay-TV services. The study goes on to say that the percentage of broadband households doing without pay-TV has increased from 9.5% in late 2010, to 11.2% in late 2011, to 12.5% today. Pay-TV operators argue that OTT’s impact on basic video subscriptions has been negligible, if the statistics focus exclusively on broadband subscribers. The study separates pay-TV refugees into two familiar segments: “cord cutters” (broadband users who once subscribed to pay-TV but no longer do) and “cord nevers” (broadband users who have never subscribed to pay-TV). “Cutters” are older, enjoy higher annual incomes, and are more likely to have children under 18 living in the home. Conversely, almost a third of “nevers” are between the ages of 18 and 24, more than half have annual incomes under $30,000, and only one-fifth have children under 18 living in the home.

For additional information, go to http://tdgresearch.com/pay-tv-refugees-now-account-13-us-broadband-households/

The market for cellular machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity services are expected to rise from approximately 107 million connections globally in 2011 to about 326 million connections by 2016, according to a recently released analysis. Mobile operators are focused on developing and expanding their activities in the cellular M2M market in the face of increasing saturation and maturity of the core mobile voice/data services market.

A number of factors are enabling and driving cellular M2M market growth, including: government regulatory initiatives (such as eCall in the European Union); the desire by corporate adopters to increase efficiency and develop new revenue models; the increasing number of tools and platforms that help to facilitate cellular M2M application development; and the declining costs of components and services (including connectivity).

For further coverage, go to http://imsresearch.com/press-release/Global_Cellular_MachinetoMachine_Connections_Growing_to_More_than_325_Million_by_2016_3213&from=all_pr

An overwhelming 60% of U.S. smartphone owners would prefer to customize their mobile service plans instead of having a set list of plans from which to choose. The demand for customized plans is nearly as great in the U.K., with 56% voicing an identical preference, while in China, the demand is even greater at 72%. The highly competitive mobile broadband market only continues to get more crowded, and it seems likely that operators with innovative pricing models that engage customers and increase quality of experience will emerge as future leaders.

For further coverage, go to http://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=pressreleaseviewer&a0=5297

Despite the slower than expected growth in the Blu-ray disc (BD) player market, the global installed base of Blu-ray  players will hit the 100 million unit mark by the end of 2012. Over 27% of North American consumers own at least one standalone Blu-ray player, but the global penetration rate is only just reaching 5%. One reason for the slow growth is the availability of content streaming, along with increased broadband capacity, which poses a serious threat to all types of physical media. However, in regions without sufficient bandwidth, BD player growth is expanding. Meanwhile, the TV industry is slowly moving towards 4K Ultra HD, and if Internet bandwidth does not keep up with the needs of high-quality video streaming, consumers will likely select the stability and convenience of the next generation of Blu-ray player.

For additional information, see http://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=pressreleaseviewer&a0=5298

Consumer preference for “lower-end” desktop and notebook computers continue to grow, with computers considered “value” or “mainstream” outselling “performance” models at nearly 15 to 1. This is likely due to a few factors.  One is the rising performance level and increased microprocessor power of lower end computers, which now offer so much computing ability, they prove to be more than adequate for almost all home use cases, and can no longer be considered “throwaway” models. Another factor is, naturally enough, price. “Value” computers are often priced near the $500 level, as compared with higher-performance models, whose price often tops $1500. However, the report warns, these positive trends for lower-priced computers do not hide the fact that the overall PC market is experiencing slow growth, as tablets and smartphones with near-PC-like functionality continue to take significant market share.

For more, go to http://www.isuppli.com/Home-and-Consumer-Electronics/News/Pages/Mainstream-and-Value-PCs-Rule-Over-High-End-Performance-Models.aspx

The future of television advertising may change with the continued adoption of smart TVs, suggests recently published research. With the number of North American households owning a smart TV reaching 87 million by 2016, advertising integrated into device navigation and content search will continue to proliferate in an attempt to catch viewers at a point of high receptivity. This type of advertising is viewed by users less as an invasive commercial and more as useful and valuable content, resulting in more click-throughs. Other highlights:

• 55% of connected-TV households earn at least $75,000 annually and own an average of 11 Internet-enabled devices.
• 72% of connected-TV owners say the connected platform makes watching TV more convenient, and 65% said the technology makes the TV experience more enjoyable.
• 49% of connected-TV viewers depend on the platform when they are unsure what to watch.

For more, see http://www.parksassociates.com/blog/article/pr-nov2012-rovi

U.S. consumers plan to spend over 33% more on consumer electronics (CE) this holiday season compared to last. A new survey and attached report expects the total amount spent on CE to rise to over $1000 per household in 2012, with huge interest in Apple’s newly introduced iPad and iPhone models fueling the spending spree. The report goes on to note that 26% of U.S. consumers intend to spend more on consumer electronics, the highest rate since 2008, while, for the first time, more households plan to purchase a tablet rather than a laptop, netbook, or other lightweight computer. Also of interest is the increase in online purchasing, with 47% of respondents planning to shop online for a new tablet (up from 32% last year), and another 25% searching online for flat-panel TVs. This trend is in line with consumers’ continued rising preference to shop at web-based storefronts, at the expense of traditional brick-and-mortar retailers.

For additional information, go to http://www.parksassociates.com/blog/article/pr-nov2012-holidayspending

Mobile and fixed-line operators are putting increased effort into monetizing subscriber data, a new forecast report announced. The report, which tracks subscriber data management software and services, notes that operators are creating cash flow on the data in two ways: brokering the information to third-party advertisers and content providers, or providing authorization and authentication services to third parties based on subscriber information. The ongoing challenge, the report warns, lies in ensuring the data is securely exposed in way that complies with both customer preferences and government regulations. The report goes on to indicate that the global subscriber data management (SDM) market is set to grow 38% in 2012, and will reach $1.5 billion by 2016.

For more information, see http://www.infonetics.com/pr/2012/1H12-Subscriber-Data-Management-Market-Highlights.asp

A recently completed nationwide survey of more that 3000 individuals living in the U.S., reached by both landline and cell phone, found that 85% own a cell phone, and of those, 53% own smartphones. Of the percentage of cell phone owners, almost 1/3 have used their phone to look for health information. This compares to a similar survey conducted two years ago, in which only 17% of cell phone owners had used their phones to look for health advice. Additionally, the survey found that 52% of smartphone owners gather health information on their phones; conversely, only 6% of non-smartphone owners did the same. The most frequent searchers of health information on their cellphone fall roughly into the following segments: Latino, African American, ages between 18-49, or college degree holders.

For more coverage, see http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Mobile-Health.aspx

Consumers may be saving nearly $9000 a year simply by having a broadband connection at home. At least, that’s what a new study asserts, achieving this level of cost reduction by estimating the money saved by broadband users through cost comparisons, easy access to a greater number of products, and the gas saved by not having to drive to brick-and-mortar stores.

For additional coverage, go to http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/Report-Consumers-Save-8870-Annually-By-Having-Broadband-122116

While a recently published report found that U.S. consumers are spending at least five more hours per week watching online content on a computer screen, live TV and video on TV continued to dominate viewing habits. All told, Americans spend upwards of 34 hours per week in front of a television, watching shows, viewing DVDs, and playing games. Still, the amount of time people spend watching content on their Internet appliances, whether they be desktop/laptop computers, tablets, or smartphones, continues to expand dramatically. Additionally, these devices, while often used for simple consuming, are also becoming more important in their role as connectivity tools, keeping people in touch and making Internet access a more mainstream service.

For further information, go to http://www.fierceonlinevideo.com/story/nielsen-americans-watching-more-online-video/2012-11-14?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

More than half of the consumers responding to a recent survey indicated that their Internet service was the most important utility in the home. Additionally, the survey identified nearly 40% of respondents as “borderless consumers,” meaning that they have an Internet-connected device with them at all times. While the report found borderless consumers in all demographic groups, the majority belong to the 18-34 year old segment. Nearly half have annual incomes exceeding $75,000, while 53% are women. And while streaming video is increasingly popular with certain segments of the population, the survey found that the vast majority of all borderless consumers (89%) and non-borderless consumers (90%) prefer watching television shows on their TVs.

For additional information, see http://www.ntca.org/new-edge/data/survey-52-consider-internet-most-important-utility-service-in-the-home

The 13 largest multi-channel video providers in the US, which account for about 94% of the market, lost about 53,500 net additional video subscribers in Q3 2012, new research has uncovered. These losses include quarterly net multi-channel video losses in Q3 2012, compared to a net gain of about 17,000 in Q3 2011, and a net loss of 28,000 in Q3 2010. The report went on to note that multi-channel video industry market appears saturated, and sales remained flat for the third quarter of 2012. Other highlights:

• The top nine cable companies lost about 420,000 video subscribers in Q3 2012, compared to a loss of about 505,000 subscribers in Q3 2011.
•  The top telephone providers added 317,000 video subscribers in Q3 2012. They had 307,000 net additions in Q3 2011.
• Satellite TV providers added 48,000 subscribers in Q3 2012. In Q3 2011, they added 216,000.
• Over the past year, multi-channel video providers added about 305,000 subscribers, while the previous year’s gain was about 250,000.

For more coverage, see http://leichtmanresearch.com/press/111312release.html

A new report focused on the use of mobile devices in the workplace was released recently. The report found that while the ideal device for mobile use in the office has finally arrived (the smartphone), it is no replacement for a tablet or laptop, but more an extension of an individual’s wallet or car keys–not quite the use case many industry prognosticators had envisioned. Other highlights:

• More employees use their own smartphones for work and they rank connectivity cost as the least important factor when choosing a mobile network—creating the potential for a “bill shock” response by enterprises that don’t have cost control policies as part of their BYOD plan.
• Mobile employees ranked their smartphone as the most important item in their lives, after their wallet and keys.
• The iPhone remains the top smartphone in the enterprise with 53% market share among mobile workers, up from 45% in 2011.
• Android passed BlackBerry over the past year to become the second most popular smartphone operating system in the enterprise.
• The Windows Phone continues to rank last out of the major mobile devices among mobile workers, with a 5% adoption rate.

  For more, go to http://mobile-workforce-project.ipass.com/cpwp/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ipass_mobileworkforcereport_q4_2012.pdf

Gaming consoles remain the most common devices used to channel over-the-top services to regular television monitors. Though native Internet-connected TVs are becoming more common, gaming consoles are still the primary way to connect for most online video viewers who watch on their televisions. A new study revealed that 30% of domestic Internet users employed a gaming console to watch online video. One reason for this may be that many households already have gaming consoles, while relatively few have dedicated over-the-top streaming devices like Apple TV or a Roku box.The study went on to find that 53.7% of all U.S. Internet users owned a gaming console as of November 2012.

For additional information, see  http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1009497&ecid=a6506033675d47f881651943c21c5ed4#pTM0q9k9UPK0dkxV.99

A recently released Internet traffic trends report holds that there is only one true digital network being built today: the Internet. The report, based on international customer feedback, found that mean monthly data usage had increased by 120% (from 23GB to 51GB) in the past year on North American fixed line networks, with Netflix dominating bandwidth, accounting for fully 1/3 of peak period downstream traffic. In Europe, meanwhile, YouTube represents more than 20% of peak downstream traffic on mobile networks. The report goes on to say that prioritizing applications like live audio and video over the Internet will remain critical to maintaining a high-quality experience.

For more, see http://www.sandvine.com/news/pr_detail.asp?ID=394

With near-field communications (NFC) payments seeing rapid growth, worldwide business and consumer spending over mobile devices is predicted to exceed $1 trillion by 2017, according to newly released research. The expansion of NFC is being driven by mobile handset and point-of-sale terminal upgrades, while proximity payments are expected to become the second-largest category of mobile payments spending. Most of the transactions will be in the form of e-commerce spending over mobile devices, which includes digital media consumed on the device, as well as e-commerce through a mobile web browser, the report said.

For additional coverage, go to http://www.fiercemobileit.com/story/idc-forecasts-rapid-growth-near-field-communication-payments/2012-11-19#ixzz2DOkjnnHo

According to a newly unveiled survey and accompanying report, firms remain focused on using femtocells to deliver improved voice coverage, though a shift toward a more strategic deployment of femtocells in an effort to enhance consumers’ mobile broadband experience. The report went on to note that the future business model for more sophisticated femtocell services remains unclear. Femtocell deployment in the residential sphere is still mainly used for improving mobile broadband and voice within the home, while Wi-Fi, once viewed as a competitor, is now being viewed as complementary technology.

For more information, see http://www.infonetics.com/pr/2012/Residential-Femtocell-Services-Survey-Highlights.asp

Two new studies by two analyst firms come to a similar conclusion: pay TV operators must embrace over-the-top content as part of their mainstream offerings, creating a new business model along the way. The study subsequently claims that the growth of OTT video services is upending the traditional pay TV market and is dramatically driving traffic growth, with more consumers watching video on multiple screens. These developments present new opportunities for pay TV providers and telcos to implement multiscreen business models. This is definitely the case in the U.K., which leads Europe in the adoption of standalone over-the-top services, as well as operator-owned multiscreen services.

For further coverage, go to http://www.fierceiptv.com/story/studies-say-pay-tv-operators-must-integrate-ott/2012-11-20#ixzz2DOgbVQBE

Everyone here at Actiontec wishes everybody out there a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Enjoy!

The Actiontec Team

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) solutions represent a growing market opportunity for new devices, solutions and services beyond traditional voice and data. While M2M was hailed as the next big application area for many years, it was very slow to take off. However, M2M is now gaining rapid momentum and a new report expects 2.5 billion cellular M2M connections worldwide by 2020.

For more, see https://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=ReportAbstractViewer&a0=7893&a1=721290

The good news: a study published this week in the Journal for Medical Internet Research found that inactive individuals can improve their level of physical activity by visiting a website containing tailored exercise advice. The bad news: only a small segment of the research group actually logged on to the website frequently. More than 12,000 sedentary participants were recruited as part of a nationwide eHealth survey, then divided into two groups: an intervention group who would have access to the website, and a control group. The advice for activity fell into three categories: everyday activity, fitness training, and strength training. Participants over 60, in particular, were advised on the importance of strength training, and urged to set goals and monitor their progress. However, less than 22% of the participants logged on to the website once, and only 7% logged on frequently, suggesting that the problem lies not in presenting the proper health information, but encouraging users to find and then use the information available to them.

For more, see http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/success-web-based-intervention-mobilizing-inactive-patients-marginal/2012-11-01?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

According to recent research, worldwide wired home networking node shipments will grow by more than 270% through 2016. There are many factors fueling this expansion, but service provider deployments and embedded home networking technologies featured in a huge number of consumer devices will be the main driver. In addition, a number of technology innovations will make it easier for consumers to take advantage of the benefits offered by a hybrid home network that contains both wired and wireless solutions. Regionally, MoCA is forecast to be the leading  wired home networking technology in North America, while Europe (both Western and Eastern) and Asia Pacific will be led by deployments of HomePlug. However, the rapid growth of G.hn in the Asia Pacific market, after its successful commercial launch in 2012, could propel the technology to become a major competitor to HomePlug and other technologies beyond 2016.

For additional coverage, go to http://www.mrgco.com/reports/hybrid-home-networks-wired-plus-wireless/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=October%20MRG%20Monthly&utm_content=October%20MRG%20Monthly+Version+B+CID_48e24e57c60713f4325084e993451436&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=Hybrid%20Home%20Networks%20Wired%20plus%20Wireless#

The majority of smartphone users in both the U.S. and UK are satisfied with their current smartphone customization capabilities, notes a newly unveiled survey-based study. Participants in the survey said that they enjoy the ability to personally customize their phone to their liking, adding convenience to most used features, as well as adding a more individualized touch. The ability to remove unused, preloaded applications on their mobile phone was one of the most requested changes respondents mentioned, along with a greater ability to change notification tones for specific applications, the ability to choose the amount of homescreens, the ability to view multiple screens at once, and the option to have moving or live wallpaper as their homescreen background. The study also looks at the percentage of users interested in having physical keys on their smartphone, as well as users’ frustrations with adding applications.

For more information, see https://www.strategyanalytics.com/default.aspx?mod=ReportAbstractViewer&a0=7904&a1=721290

Mobile users are increasingly using their devices as the default path to the Internet, according to new data. In the United States, the number of people accessing the Internet through computers will shrink from 240 million consumers in 2012 to 225 million in 2016. At the same time, the number of mobile users accessing the Internet will increase from 174 million to 265 million. This trend of mobile Internet use eclipsing traditional laptop/desktop Internet connectivity will eventually spread worldwide. The report concludes: “The great PC exodus on the Internet is happening because the PC was never truly a consumer product. Many consumers use them because there was no better alternative. Now, with the huge and growing installed base of more user-friendly tablets and smartphones, there are.”

For additional coverage, go to http://www.fiercemobileit.com/story/users-increasingly-using-mobile-devices-default-gateway-internet/2012-10-30?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

Inadequate integration between different healthcare providers is one of the biggest barriers to improving healthcare and patient safety, a new report contends. Luckily, health IT intends to break through this barrier in an effort to streamline communications between providers. The report goes on to warn that “until the language of care integration creates a positive view that offsets the popular mythology of today, it will be hard for system transformers to carry out their work.” Healthcare leaders will also have to continue to effectively explain why integration benefits patients. Health IT is a key part of this explanation, as complex medical care is impossible without the expertise health ID provides.

For more, see http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/report-care-integration-needed-improve-patient-safety/2012-11-02?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

Released excerpts from a home networking devices vendor market share and forecast report note that among the wide variety of gear tracked, the devices growing at the fastest rate have one thing in common: multimedia over coax. MoCA set top boxes and adapters continue to show sustained growth in North America, where DirecTV, Dish Networks, and a growing list of cable companies are rolling out whole-home DVR and video gateway services. Other highlights:

• A cumulative $46 billion will be spent on consumer home networking devices over the 5 years from 2012 to 2016
• Consumer residential gateways sales grew 12% in the first half of 2012 (1H12) over the second half of 2011 (2H11).
• Sales of MoCA set-top boxes rose 33% in 1H12 over 2H11.

For additional information, see http://www.infonetics.com/pr/2012/1H12-Home-Networking-Devices-Market-Highlights.asp

The results of a survey of more than 30,000 U.S. mobile subscribers were released recently. The survey reported on key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three-month period ending September 2012. It found that Samsung was the top handset manufacturer overall, with a 26% market share, while smartphone penetration surged past the 50% threshold for the first time. Google Android led the mobile operating system sector with 52.5% of smartphone subscribers, while Apple accounted for 34.3%. Other highlights:

• For the three-month period ending in September, 234 million Americans aged 13 and older used mobile devices.
• Samsung ranked as the top OEM with 26% of U.S. mobile subscribers (up 0.4%), followed by LG with 17.7%.
• Apple continued to close in on LG with 17.5% of mobile subscribers (up 2.1%), followed by Motorola (10.9%) and HTC (6.2%).
• 119.3 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones during the three months ending in September, up 8% since June.

For further information, go to http://www.comscore.com/Insights/Press_Releases/2012/11/comScore_Reports_September_2012_U.S._Mobile_Subscriber_Market_Share

The October/November 2012 edition of CrossTalk is now available. Painstakingly curated from hundreds, if not thousands, of weekly news and research articles, CrossTalk is your go-to compendium for all current telco and broadband market intelligence. If it happened in the past two months, CrossTalk has you covered. Get the latest information and forecasting data, analysis of ongoing trends, and a handy calendar of upcoming industry events in one convenient package. Download or subscribe to CrossTalk today.

For more, see http://www.actiontec.com/newsletter/november12/

With patients continuing to demand more interactive solutions, and the health care industry still casting about for additional cost-cutting maneuvers, the stage is set for an increasingly consumer-facing health care industry. A recently released whitepaper examines the trends that underpin the challenges facing health care, including examples of forward-looking business models and the implications for new technologies and services. Other salient points:

• More than 30% of consumers who visit health websites are very interested in communicating with physicians other than their primary-care physician.
• By 2016, the U.S. market for wearable smart fitness devices will pass $1 billion.
• Nearly 25% of domestic mobile phone owners are interested in a mobile app that supports communicating with their doctor.

For additional coverage, see http://www.parksassociates.com/whitepapers

The cable industry is uniting around the creation of a Wi-Fi network that seamlessly interoperates with the operator’s DOCSIS system while supporting automated handoffs between mobile and Wi-Fi networks, essentially creating a ubiquitous Wi-Fi hotspot that users can access while traveling, either for free or for a small fee.

For additional information, go to

http://www.screenplays-digital.com/screenplays/201210#pg10

According to recent research, the carrier Wi-Fi equipment market has grown since 2007, driven by demand from mobile operators augmenting their 3G and 4G deployments with Wi-Fi hotspot services. The strongest new growth arises from mobile operators deploying carrier Wi-Fi to offload a portion of their mobile data traffic. Other highlights:

• Global revenue for carrier Wi-Fi equipment  (which includes mobile Wi-Fi access points, Wi-Fi hotspot access points, and Wi-Fi hotspot controllers) grew 35% in 2011 from 2010.
• Mobile Wi-Fi access points are expected to grow 86% through 2016 as mobile operators seek a closer integration of Wi-Fi with the mobile network.
• BelAir Networks (recently acquired by Ericsson), Cisco, and Ruckus Wireless together account for more than two-thirds of 2011 global carrier Wi-Fi equipment revenue.
• New players are anticipated to enter the market, disrupting early market share standings, and, with growing demand for Wi-Fi integrated base stations from mobile operators, carrier Wi-Fi market share could shift toward the mobile infrastructure vendors.

For more coverage, see http://www.infonetics.com/pr/2012/Carrier-WiFi-Equipment-Market-Highlights.asp

Actiontec would like to take a moment to thank all veterans, alive and passed, as well as their families for their service to our country.  Your sacrifice and dedication to our country is an inspiration to us all.

A recently released study posits the number of Wi-Fi enabled devices shipped in 2012 will surpass 1.5 billion. The study goes on to say that growth is occurring across many markets, including mobile handsets, laptops, and tablets, with over 5 billion Wi-Fi enabled devices having been shipped since 2000. One key growth area is the connected home, in particular the increasingly popular connected TV. Wi-Fi is currently widely used for Internet access with connected TVs but wired connections are also used in many cases. In 2011, 17 million Wi-Fi enabled flat panel TVs were shipped, compared to 30 million in 2012, with growth continuing at a healthy pace through 2017. Further Wi-Fi growth drivers include the forthcoming Wi-Fi display specification Miracast, which provides a wireless connection between TVs and mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

For additional information, see http://www.abiresearch.com/press/wi-fi-enabled-device-shipments-will-exceed-15-bill

Wi-Fi protocols have changed significantly over the last few years and almost every smartphone shipped this year will offer some form of Wi-Fi capability. However, a new Wi-Fi protocol will begin to dominate mobile devices soon. New research suggests the IEEE 802.11ac Wi-Fi protocol will replace existing protocols (802.11b, g, and n) in the next two to three years. The 802.11ac protocol offers several advantages over current protocols, asserts the author of the study, noting that the 802.11ac is faster, has better range, and is more reliable. A similar scenario is taking place with Bluetooth technologies for mobile devices, with “Smart Ready” Bluetooth 4.0 starting its ascent. By 2014, mobile devices using “Smart Ready” will have surpassed devices still using all other older versions of Bluetooth technology.

For more coverage, go to http://www.abiresearch.com/press/seventy-percent-of-mobile-handset-shipments-will-u

The number of devices that can connect to the Internet is forecast to increase to 9.6 billion by the end of 2012, and new research suggests that the third wave of connected device growth will drive further expansion, reaching 28 billion Internet connected devices by the end of 2020. While the 9.6 billion number is impressive, note that approximately 75% of these devices come from market segments considered “existing connected devices” today, i.e., fixed and mobile communications, computers, and consumer electronics. These segments are only projected to account for half of the total installed base by 2020, as Internet connectivity becomes more common in the medical, industrial, and automotive sectors. According to the report, there are a number of key drivers behind the push to make more devices IP addressable. These include advances in processor technologies, especially low-power processors critical for many previously unconnected industrial devices. Much of this equipment does not have access to power and relies on batteries, driving this need for highly efficient, low-power processors.

For further coverage, see http://imsresearch.com/press-release/Internet_Connected_Devices_Approaching_10_Billion_to_exceed_28_Billion_by_2020&from=all_pr

As shown by the partnership between AOL and YouTube (a division of Google), the efforts to wring profits from the OTT market continue unabated. As of today, ad-funded short-form content makes up the overwhelming majority of OTT video market, estimated by recent market intelligence to top 690 billion video streams in 2011. In the long run, however, revenues in the OTT video market will be driven by premium, long-form content, although advertising revenues are forecast to increase to $13.4 billion in 2017, compared to $20.6 billion generated from pay-per and subscription OTT video services. While most companies are not large enough to sustain their business solely on OTT advertising revenues (aside from widely-popular portals such as YouTube), advertising is and will continue to be an effective method of monetizing OTT video.I

For further coverage, see http://imsresearch.com/press-release/AOL_and_Google_Boost_OTT_Video_Ads_Market&from=all_pr