Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

IRobot faces a murky future amid rising Roomba competitors

The company is still “number one,” said Elizabeth Parks, president of market research firm Parks Associates in Dallas. But it’s a shaky number one. Parks estimates that iRobot had nearly two-thirds of the robot vacuum market in 2018, but now holds only a 48 percent share. Meanwhile, rival robot makers like SharkNinja, Roborock, Eufy, and Ecovacs have been steadily chipping away.

One possible reason, according to Parks, is concern about data privacy. More advanced versions of the Roomba and other robots use visual sensors to generate detailed maps of the user’s home. This information is shared with the manufacturers to develop more advanced products, but it could also potentially be used to monitor users.

From the article, "IRobot faces a murky future amid rising Roomba competitors" by Hiawatha Bray

Previously In The News

Smart home devices are 'valuable' to 75% of those who use them

As it turns out, smart home owners are really satisfied customers. Give them a chance to buy a connected device, like a smart thermostat, and nearly 75 percent of them are really happy with what they...

More than 50% US broadband households subscribe to both pay-TV, OTT video service

New consumer research from Parks Associates shows that 53 percent of US broadband households subscribe to both a pay-TV service and at least one OTT video service. According to the ‘OTT Video & TV...

Privacy Is IoT’s Highest Hurdle

Nearly 20% of U.S. broadband households own a smart home device, or a household object that connects to the Internet, and nearly 45% of U.S. broadband households plan to buy a smart home device in the...

Euro SVOD Lags The US

New research from Parks Associates shows that in the UK, 55% of broadband homes watch OTT video. In France, the total is 51%. The levels of OTT usage lag that of the US, where 70% of broadband home...