Cloud Media tops CONNECTIONS 2011 Agenda

Parks Associates released the preliminary agenda for the 2011 CONNECTIONS Conference, featuring the core topic areas of mobility and communications, entertainment and content, connected consumer electronics, and cloud-based value-added services.

The three-day event, June 28-30 at Santa Clara, Californina, offers a unique mix of market research presentations, trending data, insight from industry leaders, and discussion of the current strategies and future challenges in providing connectivity and technology services for consumers.

Cloud media is an important topic at this year’s CONNECTIONS due to the challenges for this market in reaching its tremendous potential. Parks Associates research finds consumers are highly interested in the cloud concept, notably the prospect of having anytime, anywhere access to their media. However, less than one-third of U.S. broadband households see the value of the digital locker concept specifically for music, photo, or video content, due in large part to current fragmentation of the market.

For more information, visit www.connectionsus.com.

Gain Visibility. Generate Leads. Strategize & Network.

Sponsor CONNECTIONS U.S. this June and gain visibility, generate leads, and strategize and network with fellow speakers and attendees.

Sponsor packages include booth space, free and discounted passes, marketing benefits, and unique opportunities for promotion, including on-site videos.

There are also multiple custom opportunities, to ensure that you have the necessary tools and benefits to accomplish your unique sponsorship goals.

Contact sales@parksassociates.com if you like more information.

CONNECTIONS U.S. - Call for Papers Extended

The CONNECTIONS: The Digital Living Conference & Showcase has extended their Call for Papers until next Friday, February 11th.

The 15th annual CONNECTIONS U.S. will take place June 28-30, 2011, in Santa Clara.
This event hosts 700+ executives, highlights consumer and industry research from Parks Associates, showcases key players and new technologies, and delivers insight and recommendations for new business models and opportunities.

We are accepting submissions on the following topics:

*** Entertainment Platforms & Value-Added Services ***
-- Customer and Technical Support
-- Service and Device Management
-- Set-top Boxes and Residential Gateways
-- Applications as Drivers
-- Broadband Value-added Services
-- New Roles and Functions for Devices
-- Virtualized Services and Applications/Software
-- Digital Music “Cloud Locker” Services
-- Internet TV Services
-- Video on Demand

*** Mobile ***
-- Mobile Entertainment
-- Encoders and Content Management for Mobile Video
-- Mobile Internet Devices
-- Smartphones
-- Web Devices and the Cloud
-- Convergence in Voice Services: FMC/Femotcell/Voice beyond Commodity

*** New Media and Digital Content ***
-- Social Media
-- Content Management: DRM
-- Emerging Business Models for Digital Media Monetization
-- TV Advertising Technologies
-- Contextual and Behavioral Ad Targeting
-- Online Video
-- Publishing Content for Three Screens
-- Cloud Encoding
-- Content Storage

*** Consumer Electronics ***
-- Connected TVs
-- 3D TV
-- Home Networking Requirements
-- Gaming
-- Game Consoles
-- Retail Experience
-- User Interfaces
-- Shifting Content

*** Home Systems & Controls ***
-- Home Area Network
-- Service Providers - Home Management and Controls
-- Appliances & Smarter Energy Management
-- Wireless and Powerline Controls
-- Entertainment Networks & High-end Media Servers

Click here to submit to speak at the CONNECTIONS U.S. event.

Gesture recognition, smart home services, energy management solutions, and multiscreen video services among top trends from 2011 CES

Parks Associates anticipates 2011 will mark the resurgence of the Smart Home concept following a series of CES announcements as well as research showing U.S. consumers value energy management as a lifestyle choice as well as a cost-saving measure.

CES 2011 featured several significant announcements for connected home systems and services, smart appliances, and broadband-enabled home monitoring services, including Verizon’s Home Monitoring Control offering, which featured applications for a web camera, lighting control, outlet modules, and a communicating thermostat. Consumers are starting to see energy-efficient products and services as a means to improve their home and personal comfort as well as for cost savings, which opens the market for a variety of solutions from utilities, service providers, and manufacturers.

Parks Associates will further explore the opportunities and implications of residential energy management at the upcoming Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, January 24-26, in Austin, Texas.

CES 2011 also featured a variety of sophisticated gesture-recognition and multiplatform connectivity solutions.

Other key CES 2011 innovations center on solutions that link mobile and portable CE such as smartphones and tablet computers to the television so consumers can move seamlessly between platforms and even "flick" video from an iPad to an Internet-connectable TV. The use of complementary video viewing devices has significant implications on how interactive television and TV Everywhere concepts will evolve.

Soundbites from Analysts at CES

Some of the Parks Associates' analysts were captured highlighting the significant new products at CES 2011.

Featured analysts include:
Stuart Sikes, President
Farhan Abid, Research Analyst
Bill Ablondi, Director, Home Systems Research
Laura Allen Phillips, Research Analyst
Brett Sappington, Senior Analyst
Harry Wang, Director, Health & Mobile Product Research

The connected home (including refrigerators), the smart grid and personalized video were among topics mentioned by these industry experts.

To view these sound bites, visit: http://www.viodi.tv/2011/01/10/ces2011-analysts-views/

Analysts open '11 CES by addressing content and security issues facing manufacturers and developers in Internet-connectable CE

Parks Associates wrapped up the fifth-annual CONNECTIONS™ Summit at CES, the first day of 2011 International CES, by addressing the key issues facing CE manufacturers and solutions developers in 2011. The first session, "Analyst Roundtable: The Connected Home Is Here," which broke all previous attendee records, examined key trends and areas of concern, including how Internet-connectable TV devices can avoid the same underwhelming reception that plagued 3DTV after its big splash at CES 2010.

Parks Associates’ recent research finds that – the apps vs. open-browser debate notwithstanding – connected TV manufacturers will find market success with specific content application offerings, particularly premium video-on-demand (movies and TV shows), photo-viewing, social network feeds, streaming music service, customizable widgets, and gaming applications.

With sales of Microsoft Kinects exceeding the company's expectations, and multiple gesture-recognition products debuting at CES, how consumers interact with the television will also be radically changing starting in 2011.

Although online video and applications are major drivers for the rise of connected devices, other areas of focus for CE and service providers in 2011 will be backup, content protection and redundancy, and a greater emphasis on device security. This sets the stage for appliance- and cloud-based storage as well as device security and related features:

• According to Parks Associates, about one-third of U.S. broadband households (32%) are backing up content on at least a monthly basis.

• The firm's recent survey Consumer Demand for Technical Support Services found 20% of consumers are “highly concerned” about losing documents and other digital content because of technical issues, theft, or other catastrophic issues.

• Security concerns are moving into the mobile realm, where U.S. consumers are showing increasing demand for remote protection services for mobile and portable devices. This finding indicates 2011 will be a good year for companies such as Lookout, which provides location and lockdown services for smartphones.

Parks Associates Invites Media to 5th Annual CONNECTIONS at CES

Parks Associates invites media to attend the 5th Annual CONNECTIONS™ Summit and Networking Reception at CES from 9:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on January 6, 2011, in Rooms S206-207, South Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center.

Analysts will begin the CONNECTIONS™ Summit with a roundtable discussion of the latest consumer research and market trends for the connected lifestyle. Sessions will feature executives from over 25 technology companies speaking on topics such as operator strategies for value-added services, connected CE, smart grid and residential energy management, and video services for multiple platforms. Agenda available at http://www.parksassociates.com/events/connections/summit/2011/agenda/agenda.html .

President Stuart Sikes will also be participating at the CES Digital Health Summit on January 8, and Senior Analyst Brett Sappington will moderate a next-gen video session at Broadband Unlimited @CES on January 5.

Sessions include:
9:45-10:45 - "Analyst Roundtable: "The Connected Home is Here!"
11:00-12:00 - "Operator Strategies: Video, Services, and Support"
12:15-1:15 - "Monetizing Connected Consumer Electronics"
1:30-2:30 - "Executive Roundtable: The Smart Grid & the Home Area Network"
2:45-3:45 - "Anytime Anywhere Entertainment & Communication – Mobile Apps"
4:00-5:00 - "Video Everywhere: Key Strategies"

Visit Parks Associates at Booth #20554, South Hall 1.

Meet our expert Analysts at CES

Request a briefing with the Parks Associates Analysts or a meeting with our Parks Associates Business Development Team to discuss your research needs while at CES 2011 on January 6th.

Farhan Abid, Research Analyst

INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
Home Systems, Energy Management and Smart Grid Technologies, Entertainment Systems, Home Systems Integration Channel, Home Builders

Bill Ablondi, Director, Home Systems Research

INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
Home Systems, Home Controls, Energy Management and Smart Grid, Home Security, Entertainment Systems, Home Systems Integration Channel, Home Builders and Multifamily Executives

Pietro Macchiarella, Research Analyst

IINDUSTRY EXPERTISE
Gaming Content and Services, Game Consoles, Connected Consumer Electronics, 3D TV Technologies and Services, Consumer Storage Products and Services

Laura Allen Phillips, Research Analyst

INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
Digital Media, Online Video, Digital Music, Social Networking, Consumer Storage and “Cloud Media” Services & Technologies

Brett Sappington, Senior Analyst

INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
Residential Broadband Services, Digital Television Services, Value-added Services, Interactive Technology and Services, TV Everywhere, User Interfaces, Set-top Boxes

Kurt Scherf, Vice President, Principal Analyst

INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
Home Networks & Residential Gateways, Home Networking Media (Wi-Fi, G.hn, HomePlug, MoCA, etc.), Set-top Boxes, Connected Consumer Electronics, Consumer Storage Products and Services, Media Server Hardware and Software, Value-added Services, Online Video, Consumers and Digital Entertainment, Digital Home Technical Support Services

Harry Wang, Director, Health & Mobile Product Research

INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
Digital Health Products and Services, Portable and Mobile Access Platforms and Applications, Digital Imaging Products and Services

Heather Way, Research Analyst

INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
Digital Media, Emerging Advertising Technologies, Digital Video Advertising

Samsung, Others to Show New Tablets at CES

Samsung will show at the Consumer Electronics Show an iPad-sized tablet with a unique style of slide out keyboard, according to The New York Times.

The device will run Windows 7 in landscape mode but will switch to a special interface when in tablet mode (or in portrait mode, without the keyboard). The Samsung tablet will receive a formal introduction during Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s keynote address at CES, along with a new tablet from Dell and other suppliers.

Microsoft at CES, hopes to counter the iPad with business-use or work-horse devices for business people who want to both read newspapers and magazines on a tablet and switch over to Excel, Word or PowerPoint.

For the complete article, please click here.

CONNECTIONS Summit at CES to address video strategies as U.S. online video viewers to reach 215 million by 2014

The final session of CONNECTIONS™ Summit at CES, "Video Everywhere: Key Strategies," will examine market implications of TV Everywhere, VOD, and connected TVs, along with the risks of cord cutting, featuring speakers from Rovi, Korea Telecom, DivX, ActiveVideo Networks, and Sigma Designs.

The penetration of connected TVs and Blu-ray players has tripled in the past year, and over one-third of U.S. broadband household report increased time spent watching long-form videos on a PC. Consumer expectations for the video experience are expanding, and service providers and CE manufacturers must meet these demands or risk losing customers to competitors and over-the-top sources.

"Video Everywhere" session speakers:

• Sean Besser, VP, Business Development, Rovi Corp.

• Woo Seung Lee, Team Manager, Media Business Planning Department, Korea Telecom

• Matt Milne, EVP and GM, DivX

• Edgar Villalpando, SVP, Marketing, ActiveVideo Networks

• Michael Weismann, VP Corporate Marketing, Sigma Designs

CONNECTIONS™ Summit at CES provides consumer data and analysis of business and marketing strategies for operators, CE manufacturers, utilities, and communications companies delivering connected devices and advanced services and applications to consumers.

For information about CONNECTIONS™ Conferences, visit www.connectionsconference.com.

CONNECTIONS Summit at CES to feature analyst roundtable, 3DTV, smartphones, connected home services, and consumer buying habits

Parks Associates will open CONNECTIONS™ Summit at CES on January 6 with the session "Analyst Roundtable: The Connected Home is Here!" at 10:00 a.m., featuring expert analysis on the expansion of enhanced connectivity in the home.

Sales of Internet-capable consumer electronics will exceed 200 million worldwide in 2011. Mainstream adoption of digital technologies is reaching all corners of the home. Multiple players, including content owners, CE companies, retailers, broadband and communications providers, and energy utilities, will seek to enhance their consumer relationships through new applications, services, and features that fit with these new market demands.

• In 2011, 36% of new flat-panel TVs sold worldwide will be Internet-capable, growing to 76% of all units in 2015.

• Smartphones and Internet-capable CE remain popular purchases despite CE purchase intentions plunging from almost 50% in 2009 to 38% in 2010.

• In 2011, U.S. sales of smartphones will reach nearly 60 million, and Internet tablets, including Apple iPads , will exceed 13 million.

• By 2014, 80% of new flat-panel TVs sold in the U.S. and Western Europe will have 3D capabilities.

The analyst roundtable will feature data from recent consumer projects, including Consumer Decision Process, Residential Energy Management, Consumer Demand for Technical Support Services, and Digital Video: Three Screens and Beyond.

CONNECTIONS™ Summit at CES is on the first day of 2011 International CES in the South Hall Convention Center, Rooms S206-207. Summit sessions:

Analyst Roundtable: The Connected Home is Here!
Operator Strategies: Video, Services, and Support
Monetizing Connected Consumer Electronics
Executive Roundtable: The Smart Grid and the Home Area Network
Anytime Anywhere Entertainment & Communication – Mobile Applications
Video Everywhere: Key Strategies

CONNECTIONS™ Summit at CES includes support from CONNECTIONS™ Europe sponsors Accedo Broadband, ActiveVideo Networks, ADB, Gigle Networks, Latens, PacketVideo, ProVision Communications, Radialpoint, Ralink Technology Corporation, Virgin Media, and Zeitera. CONNECTIONS™ 2011 sponsors include Association Sponsor CEA and Affinegy, Allegro, HCL, iTOK, Rovi, and Roxio.

CONNECTIONS US - Now accepting speaker submissions

Interested in Presenting Your Company's Vision at CONNECTIONS 2011?

Submit today to be a speaker at the 2011 CONNECTIONS U.S Conference in Santa Clara, California.

CONNECTIONS addresses critical business issues pertaining to the converging entertainment, media, and service markets for consumers. The CONNECTIONS audience is 550+ top executives, media, and thought leaders in the digital living markets. Presentations include information and analysis on the following subjects: New Business Models; Case Study; Consumer Trends, Factors, or Research; Challenges/Opportunities; Technology Trends; Standards/
Interoperability Issues.

Event Topics include:

• ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORMS & VALUE-ADDED SERVICES
• MOBILE
• NEW MEDIA AND DIGITAL CONTENT
• CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
• HOME SYSTEMS & CONTROLS
  

Accepting submissions for this event until January 31, 2011.

Intel, Rovi, Best Buy, and other industry leaders participating at executive summit at CES 2011

Parks Associates announced the sessions and preliminary list of speakers for its upcoming CONNECTIONS™ Summit at CES, January 6 at 2011 International CES in Las Vegas. This event provides consumer data and analysis of business and marketing strategies for operators, CE manufacturers, utilities, and communications companies delivering connected devices and advanced services and applications to consumers.

At CONNECTIONS™ Summit at CES, we will look beyond the headlines and announcements to see what consumers will be doing with these devices and how they will change their video, entertainment, and communication habits.”

Parks Associates will host CONNECTIONS™ Summit in the South Hall Convention Center, Rooms S206-207, during the first day of CES. Preliminary list of speakers:

Sean Besser, VP, Business Development, Rovi Corp.
Tom Bottorff, Sr. VP-Regulatory Affairs, PG&E
Kris Bowring, Senior Director, Platform Lead, Best Buy
Matt Carinio, Senior Business Analyst, LEVEL Studios
Chris Deutschen, Senior Manager, Direct Energy
Wynn Grubbs, VP, Sales and Marketing, PlumChoice
Dave Habiger, President and CEO, Sonic Solutions
Brian David Johnson, Futurist and Director, Future Casting and Experience Research, Intel Corporation
Shashidhar K, Global Practice Director, HCL Technologies
Chris King, Chief Regulatory Officer, eMeter Corporation
Woo Seung Lee, Team Manager, Media Business Planning Department, Korea Telecom
Scott Levine, VP, General Manager – Mobile, Blockbuster, Inc.
Joel Marshall, EVP, Steelhead Advertising
Steve McKay, CEO, Entone
Andy Melder, VP Business Development, Gigle Networks
Sean Miller, President, iTOK
Steve Oetegenn, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Verimatrix
Lawrence M. Oliva, Director of Tariffs, Programs, and Services, Southern California Edison
Rick Schwartz, Senior Product Manager, Consumer Software, PacketVideo (PV)
Edgar Villalpando, SVP, Marketing, ActiveVideo Networks

For information about CONNECTIONS™ Conferences, visit www.connectionsconference.com.

New CONNECTIONS 2011 US Gold Sponsor- Affinegy

CONNECTIONS U.S is proud to welcome Affinegy as a 2011 event sponsor.

Affinegy provides advanced software that makes it simple and secure for consumers to lead a Digital Lifestyle. Our Digital Lifestyle Networking platform allows broadband service and solution providers to deliver a frustration-free experience to their end customers. That dramatically reduces support costs, reduces churn, and increases value-added service revenue opportunities.

Their unique solutions have been architected from the ground up to easily connect, secure and manage Digital Lifestyle Networks. Spanning – for the first time – both emerging devices and previously installed, networking gear in the consumer home. This capability gives end consumers unprecedented control of their Digital Lifestyle environment, and provides our customers and partners with powerful intelligence for tailoring value-added services to consumer needs.

With over 5 million consumer Digital Lifestyle Networks deployed via relationships with some of the world’s largest broadband service providers, the reach of our solutions is rapidly growing, and continues to accelerate via our emerging customer channels across the Digital Lifestyle ecosystem.

For more information, please visit http://affinegy.com.

Convergence of Content, Platforms, + Entertainment among the Key Themes at CONNECTIONS U.S. 2011

Parks Associates announced the topics and the call for speaker submissions for the 15th annual CONNECTIONS™: The Digital Living Conference & Showcase. The international research firm will host the executive conference on June 28-30, 2011, at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

The CONNECTIONS™ audience includes over 550 executives, media, and thought leaders gathered to discuss the future of the digital lifestyle, network with partners in the digital living markets, and examine ideas, technologies, and business issues critical to the converging entertainment, media, and service markets for consumers.

Parks Associates is accepting speaker submissions in five core areas:

Entertainment Platforms & Value-Added Services
Customer and Technical Support
Service and Device Management
Set-top Boxes and Residential Gateways
Applications as Drivers
Broadband Value-added Services
New Roles and Functions for Devices
Virtualized Services and Applications/Software
Digital Music “Cloud Locker” Services
Internet TV Services
Video-on-demand

Mobile
Mobile Entertainment
Encoders and Content Management for Mobile Video
Mobile Internet Devices
Smartphones
Web Devices and the Cloud
Convergence in Voice Services: FMC/Femotcell/Voice beyond Commodity

New Media and Digital Content
Social Media
Content Management: DRM
Emerging Business Models for Digital Media Monetization
TV Advertising Technologies
Contextual and Behavioral Ad Targeting
Online Video
Publishing Content for Three Screens
Cloud Encoding
Content Storage

Consumer Electronics
Connected TVs
3DTV
Home Networking Requirements
Gaming
Retail Experience
User Interfaces
Shifting Content

Home Systems & Controls
Home Area Network
Service Providers - Home Management and Controls
Appliances & Smarter Energy Management
Wireless and Powerline Controls
Entertainment Networks & High-end Media Servers

CONNECTIONS™ panelists present information and analysis with content including new business models, technology trends, case studies, challenges/opportunities, standards/interoperability issues, and consumer research. CONNECTIONS™ runs multiple tracks focused on targeted topics so that the event maintains its unique perspective on current Digital Living areas while looking forward to the next wave of innovation and consumer adoption.

For more information, visit www.connectionsconference.com .

Packet Video Joins CONNECTIONS US 2011 As A Silver Level Sponsor

Packet Video has recently teamed up with Parks Associates to become the newest Silver Level Sponsor for CONNECTIONS US 2011.

Founded in 1998, PacketVideo is the software pioneer powering the world’s leading multimedia services on millions of home and mobile devices.

PV's software products form the foundation for audience-interactive media experiences that give your consumers the freedom to enjoy multimedia however, whenever and wherever they want. PV's software gives users greater access and control over their media experience, increasing the value of your services and helping you differentiate your brand. PV's customers include the world's leading mobile operators, such as Verizon Wireless, NTT DoCoMo and Orange, all top ten handset manufacturers, and numerous consumer electronics companies and media-savvy consumers worldwide.

For more information, visit www.pv.com.

Allegro Software joins CONNECTIONS 2011 Sponsor List

Parks Associates welcome Allegro Software, a global leader in providing Internet Software for Embedded devices, to the newest list of sponsors for the 2011 CONNECTIONS Conference in Santa Clara.

Allegro Software Development Corporation is the premier provider of UPnP networking and device management technologies specifically targeted at embedded Internet applications. Since 1996, Allegro has been a force in the evolution of device management solutions with its RomPager embedded web server toolkit. Now also an active contributor to UPnP / DLNA initiatives, Allegro supplies a range of UPnP toolkits that offer portability, easy integration and full compliance with UPnP device specifications.

Allegro is headquartered in Boxborough, MA. For more information about Allegro, visit www.allegrosoft.com.

We thank you for your continued support!

iTOK sponsors CONNECTIONS 2011

Parks Associates is proud to welcome iTOK as a 2011 CONNECTIONS US Sponsor.

Founded in the US in 2004, iTOK utilizes proprietary problem prevention software to make computers more comfortable and secure for the average person to use. iTOK is founded on the belief that computer support should be personal, trustworthy and affordable.

Thank you iTOK for your support. We look forward to your participation!

Please visit www.itok.net for more information.

Affinegy Sponsors CONNECTIONS 2011

Parks Associates is proud to announce that Affinegy as a Gold 2011 CONNECTIONS Sponsor.

Affinegy provides software solutions that enable seamless connectivity between consumers, their devices and their content, whether inside or outside the home. Leading service providers, consumer equipment vendors, and ISVs offer Affinegy solutions to their customers as the control point for their connected home experience. Deployed in nearly 5 million households, Affinegy solutions increase product and service adoption, slash inbound support costs, and provide an open architecture for delivering new value-added services for the consumer digital lifestyle.

Thank you Affinegy for your continued support of our events!

For more information about Affinegy and their seamless solutions for your digital lifestyle, please visit www.affinegy.com.

15th CONNECTIONS Conference Dates Announced

The fifteenth annual CONNECTIONS™: The Digital Living Conference & Showcase will take place on June 28-30, 2011, at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The 2011 event focuses on entertainment and media platforms, content distribution, mobile applications and services, broadband and operator strategies, energy management solutions, advanced advertising initiatives, and connected CE.

Early sponsors for CONNECTIONS™ 2011 are Association Sponsor CEA and Affinegy, Allegro, iTOK, Rovi, and Sonic Solutions.

Parks Associates will also host CONNECTIONS™ Europe Summit in Amsterdam, Netherlands, November 15-16, 2010, featuring the latest consumer research on digital living technologies around the world and analysis on new business models and opportunities for TV operators, content developers, advertisers, and CE companies.

CONNECTIONS™ Summit at CES, January 6, 2011, focuses on trends, emerging business models and technologies, and growth opportunities for companies developing products and services for the digital home.