Providing Market Intelligence for 40 Years

In The News

Smart thermostats are tough sell, but ComEd hopes rebates boost interest

A study released this month by Parks Associates found only 18 percent of consumers would buy a smart thermostat at $250, but offering a $100 rebate more than doubled the pool of interested buyers.

"The market for smart thermostats is still in the early adopter phase," said Tom Kerber, director of internet of things strategy for Parks Associates, a Texas-based consumer technology research and consulting company. "To move beyond early adopters, they have to offer products at a lower price point."

Kerber said prices for the first-generation smart thermostats started at about $400 but have dropped to about $250 for Nest and other leading products. He said breaking through the $150 price point opens it up to a broader market.

From the article "Smart thermostats are tough sell, but ComEd hopes rebates boost interest" by Robert Channick.

Previously In The News

Fitness Trackers Leave the Wrist Behind

"In 2017 we'll see new form factors emerge to track fitness activities beyond the wrist," says Harry Wang, senior director of research for Parks Associates, a market resesarch and consulting firm. In-...

Antenna Users: Rescan to Keep Getting Free TV

If you're just getting started with free, over-the-air TV, you're in good company. Even many consumers who have switched to streaming video services, such as DirecTV Now or Sling TV, use an antenna fo...

PayPal’s Popular But Apple Is The Class Favorite

PayPal is the number one mobile payment app in the U.S., according to research by Parks Associates and by quite a margin. NFC World reported that 12 percent of those polled prefer PayPal while retail-...

Consumers Are Spending More Money on Mobile Streaming Apps

While these numbers reflect a growing comfort with watching premium content on mobile among consumers, it also paints a picture of what premium platforms aren’t getting much love. For instance, fuboTV...