Interest in home automation is increasing but the biggest hindrance in adoption is cost. According to a study conducted by Parks Associates, consumers are very interested in bundled offers from their service providers, combining familiar brand names with packaged price deals. The research revealed that 66 percent of all US broadband households find a smart home bundled package quite appealing.
Bundled packages mostly include a variety of home safety, security, and device-management offerings, but those that offer home management which includes safety alerts, remote home monitoring, and remote management of the home’s thermostat, are the most appealing.
“Consumers, while interested in smart home services, are averse to long-term contracts, but there are other, alternate options for building revenues,” said Tom Kerber, Director, Research, Home Controls & Energy, Parks Associates. “To avoid monthly monitoring fees, consumers are willing to let their service provider adjust their thermostat during peak hours. There is also interest in in-app purchases and advertising, which could be a source of incremental revenue for product manufacturers and service providers.”
From the article, "Best smart home packages from cable + internet providers" by Mellisa Tolentino.
