Press Release: Networked Entertainment Devices Expected to Drive
Distribution of Digital Content and Expand Opportunities for CE Vendors,
According to New InfoTrends/CAP Ventures Report
Sept. 20, 2005--The market for multimedia home
networks (home networks that contain A/V devices) is still in its infancy. A
recent InfoTrends/CAP Ventures study shows that while nearly 20% of U.S.
households have a data home network, less than 5% currently have a multimedia
network such as one with a television or stereo connected to the network.
Nevertheless, several factors are laying the groundwork for sharing digital
content in the future, including the growing penetration of devices such as
digital cameras, camcorders, PVRs, and MP3 players, as well as lower-cost
networking technologies being integrated into these same products.
It is not yet clear exactly how the market will
develop, but the scenario that appears to be emerging includes a central server
and one or more devices delivering and receiving content from the server, such
as a PC, stereo, or TV. The central server in the home can be the household PC
or a dedicated media server/set-top box, with double- or triple-digit gigabytes
of storage space that is specifically dedicated to storing and recording A/V
content. PC vendors envision a PC as the central server in the home, while most
other players believe that a consumer electronics device is the hub of the
multimedia network.
"Consumers are accumulating digital media files at a
rapid clip, making multimedia networks even more desirable," says Mike Wolf, a
Director at InfoTrends/CAP Ventures. "Now is the time for vendors to stake their
claims as new possibilities unfold. Potential avenues include providing users
with a central server or hub where entertainment content resides, media adapters
that extend content to other rooms in the home, entertainment content, and
service and support of home networks."
For digital camera and other imaging vendors, enabling
their cameras to connect to a wireless network to share images on a TV or mobile
device will create extra value in the eyes of the consumer. Similarly, cameras
will be more valuable as electronic photo albums if consumers can instantly
retrieve photos stored on a media server or an online photo site.
InfoTrends/CAP Ventures' new report entitled The
Digital Domicile: Digital Entertainment in the Home and the Impact of Multimedia
Networks is available immediately. The report examines the impact of new media
technologies on the digital home. Multimedia networks and new content
distribution technologies are examined, as is the impact on existing vendors,
consumer platforms, and technologies. Market drivers and barriers are assessed,
and industry players are profiled. A five-year forecast for PC-based home
networks and media networks is also provided.
About InfoTrends/CAP Ventures
InfoTrends/CAP Ventures is the leading worldwide
market research and strategic consulting firm for the digital imaging and
document solutions industries. We provide research, analysis, forecasts, and
advice to help clients understand market trends, identify opportunities, and
develop strategies to grow their businesses.
Posted: Tue - September 20, 2005 at 08:05 AM