Sony Ericsson will tilt more toward U.S., China

According to Sony Ericsson's Chief Executive, Bert Nordberg, the company is open to joint ventures in China's gaming industry, and plans to sell its Xperia Play (their new cellphone-and-videogame device), in the country. Mr. Nordberg, declined to give a timeline for the device's launch in China, but said the handset maker will need at least three months to make preparations.

In recent years, Sony Ericsson, a 50-50 joint venture between Sony Corp. of Japan and Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson of Sweden, has struggled with losses and falling market share in the competitive smartphone race. Its focus now is on higher-end devices, like Xperia Play, running on Google Inc.'s Android OS, in a bid to improve its margins and raise its share of global market revenue. The company unveiled Xperia Play at the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona last month.

Xperia Play is a crossover of PlayStation Portable gaming console and a cellphone. This is the first attempt in years by a major manufacturer to combine cellphone and full gaming capabilities in the same product. Mr. Nordberg said he expects the device to reach U.S. stores early April, using network operator Verizon Wireless, and then Western Europe. China is on track to become the company's biggest market for mobile phones around 2013-14, as Sony Ericsson ranked fifth in smartphone sales in China in the fourth quarter, according to Beijing research firm Analysys International.

To read the full article, please click here.

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 .

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!

50% of U.S. households are interested in home energy monitoring

Home monitoring and controls companies will need to take alternate, more indirect routes to reach mass-market status, according to international research firm Parks Associates.

Almost 50% of U.S. households are very interested in an energy-monitoring device, with nearly 80% willing to pay $100 provided it saves 10-30% on their electricity bill. Energy applications are popular now because of the need for cost savings, but in the end, all home systems will need to be interconnected. By embedding their technologies into energy-related appliances and systems, controls and monitoring companies can get a foothold in the home and start to build traction on a mass scale with consumers.

Controls and monitoring companies can form strategic partnerships with system manufacturers, service providers, and utilities to build these inroads. Many utilities have smart grid programs, which have partnership opportunities, but the popularity of energy solutions has attracted new, nontraditional players. For example, Intel recently announced a sensor that monitors power usage throughout a home and shows the homeowner the amount of power used by different appliances and systems.

CONNECTIONS welcomes 2010 sponsors

Parks Associates is proud to announce the 2010 CONNECTIONS U.S. Sponsors and Supporting Organizations.

CONNECTIONS™ sponsors include 4Home, ActiveVideo Networks, Affinegy, Allegro, Arxan Technologies, Cisco, Gigle Networks, IBM, Intel, iTOK, PacketVideo, ProVision, RedMere, Rovi, Roxio, Verizon Wireless, Vuze and Zenverge.

Supporting organizations include ADMIN, ATIS, CABA, CEDIA, ChinaCCM.com, Circle F Media, Electronics Technicians Association, EMA’s GamePlan Summit, ETSI, Experiential Marketing Forum, HomePlug Powerline Alliance, HomePNA, IDMA, JETRO, MoCA, MPEG Industry Forum, SIP Center, Wi-Fi Alliance, Wi-Fi Technology Forum, Wireless Industry Partnership, and WITI.

Platinum supporting media are Connected Planet, Digital Media Wire, and Home Toys. Supporting media are BoogarLists, Conference Guru, Connect-World, FierceIPTV, FierceMobileContent, FierceOnlineVideo, FierceWireless:Europe, Gadget-t, Global Electronics & Electrical Appliances, HiddenWires, Home Media Magazine, IPTV Industry, OSP, Residential Systems, Screen Digest, TVover.net, VentureBeat, and WiMAX Industry.

Thank you to all the above organizations for their continued support!

Sonic Solutions sponsors CONNECTIONS U.S.

Parks Associates is excited to welcome Sonic Solutions as a new CONNECTION 2010 sponsor.

Sonic Solutions is powering the digital media ecosystem through its complete range of Hollywood to Home applications, services, and technologies. Sonic's Roxio products enable consumers to easily manage and enjoy personal digital media content and, through Roxio CinemaNow, access premium Hollywood entertainment on a broad range of connected devices.

A wide array of leading technology firms, professionals, and developers rely on Sonic to bring innovative digital media functionality to next-generation devices and platforms. Sonic Solutions is headquartered in Marin County, California.

For more information about Sonic Solutions, visit www.roxio.com.

CONNECTIONS™ addresses business strategies and new technologies that leverage consumer interest in TV Everywhere services

Parks Associates reports TV Everywhere services are gaining popularity, with over 40% of U.S. broadband households very positive on these services, which will be a prominent topic at the upcoming CONNECTIONS™: The Digital Living Conference and Showcase.

CONNECTIONS™ includes multiple sessions on New Media and Digital Content:

• TV Everywhere and Online Video
• Mobile Internet and Cloud Services
• Trends in User Interfaces
• TV and Online Video Advertising Metrics
• DRM, Conditional Access, and Payment Models

Other Event Sessions:

Entertainment Platforms & Value-Added Services

• Digital Home Technical Support Services
• Digital Lifestyles
• Service Provider Innovation
• The Service Provider and the Connected Home
• Innovations & Investments: Venture Capitalist Insights

Consumer Electronics

• Design Elements for Connected CE
• Monetizing Connected CE
• The Future of the Set-top Box
• 3DTV
• TV Technology in the New Age of Consumer Buying

Home Systems & Controls

• Residential Energy Management
• Getting Consumers to Care about Home Controls
• Business Models for Energy Management
• Architectures and Implications for the Home Area Network
• Energy Management as a Key Application for Home Controls

For more information, visit www.connectionsus.com or contact sales@parksassociates.com, 972-490-1113.

CONNECTIONS US 2010 Agenda Live

CONNECTIONS: The Digital Living Conference and Showcase, hosted by leading research firm Parks Associates, is the premier executive event focused on the market developments and growth factors for advanced digital lifestyle solutions.

This unique research-driven executive conference and showcase delivers insight and recommendations for new business models and opportunities in digital media/content, connected consumer electronics, broadband and value-added services, and home systems.

To view the CONNECTIONS US 2010 agenda, click here.

New Keynote Announced, CONNECTIONS US

Scott Birnbaum, Vice President, Samsung LCD Group will be one of the keynote speakers at the upcoming CONNECTIONS: The Digital Living Conference and Showcase.

Scott's presentation, "TV Technology in the New Age of Consumer Buying," will occur on June 9th at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

Scott Birnbaum is vice president of the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Business at Samsung Semiconductor, Inc., responsible for sales operations throughout the Americas. In this capacity, he focuses on working closely with customers to develop new applications for LCDs, while building strategic OEM relationships in the TV, PC monitor, notebook and cellular phone sectors.

Birnbaum brings with him a thorough “hands on” understanding of all aspects of the electronics value chain, leveraging more than 20 years of leadership in sales, marketing and operational management roles within the LCD, semiconductor, electronic manufacturing services and distribution industries.

Register before April 15th to receive early bird pricing.

CONNECTIONS US welcomes new sponsor, Allegro Software

Parks Associates welcomes Allegro Software Development Corporation as the newest Silver level sponsor for June CONNECTIONS U.S. event.

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 Software Development Corporation, please visit www.allegrosoft.com.

Call for Papers, CONNECTIONS Europe & U.S.

We are now accepting speaker submissions for the two upcoming Parks Associates events:

CONNECTIONS Europe Summit
April 27, 2010
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Event website: www.connectionseurope.com

CONNECTIONS Europe features perspectives from industry leaders and international research firm Parks Associates regarding:

-- Advanced television services
-- The residential gateway and the set-top box
-- Consumer buying habits, service and product preferences, and future purchase intentions
-- Business models and opportunities for TV operators, content developers, advertisers, and CE companies
-- Impact and market outlook for new technologies, including 3D TV

Call for Papers DEADLINE: MARCH 1


CONNECTIONS: The Digital Living Conference and Showcase
June 8-10, 2010
Santa Clara, California, USA

CONNECTIONS will address the opportunities and challenges in connected CE, 3D TV, smart grid and energy management solutions, consumer and technical support, smartphones and mobile services, social media, and content management. CONNECTIONS attracts companies with market-leading digital living initiatives and senior executives from industries associated with the digital home, new media and content distribution, and mobile applications and services.

Event website: www.connectionsus.com

Call for Papers DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 15

Telcordia Focuses on National Cyber Security Issues

As cyber threats and national security issues continue to capture the attention of the nation and the Obama administration looks to appoint the much heralded Cyber Czar, Telcordia Technologies, a leading architect of telecommunications software and services and a long standing contributor to advanced national communications systems, is amplifying its focus on critical issues surrounding the vulnerability and survivability of the nation's networks.

Telcordia, a chief architect of the telecommunications system in the U.S., has pioneered many of the telecommunications services used today. With more than 1800 patents issued, the company is renowned for developing groundbreaking communications technologies that have served as the connectivity tissue for most U.S. and foreign carrier networks.

National security issues and their impacts continue to intensify. The Department of Homeland Security reports the number of cyber attacks on government and private networks multiplied nearly 20-fold over the last four years. As fragmented systems thwart the secure exchange of information across government entities and companies, information blockage remains a national concern.

Following the divestiture of the Bell Telephone System, there was no longer one company responsible for architecturing, engineering and ensuring the integrity of the nation's communications network. At the same time, networks became markedly more complex with the onset of new competition, technologies and applications, further increasing the vulnerability and security risks of the network infrastructure. Previous administrations have attempted to reduce the vulnerabilities in the system, defend against the full spectrum of threats, and develop next-generation technologies to maintain a competitive edge but those efforts have fallen short.

For more information on Telcordia's security offerings visit www.telcordia.com/services/security/index.html.

RedMere, New CONNECTIONS Sponsor

CONNECTIONS welcomes RedMere as a new CONNECTIONS Europe Advisory Sponsor and the first 2010 CONNECTIONS US Sponsor.

RedMere is the leading provider of chip and cable technology solutions for the next generation of compact, lightweight cables for Synchronization, Camera, Home Theater, Game and Enterprise applications. Whether on the move, at home or at work these new cable systems deliver the ultimate in compact digital connectivity over HDMI, DisplayPort and USB for Video and Still Cameras, Smartphones, HDTV, Blu-Ray DVD, PS3 and Xbox, as well as enterprise solutions using Infiniband and PCI Express. RedMere provides cable-embedded semiconductors and advanced cable reference design to cable industry leaders and manufacturing partners.

Visit www.redmere.com for more information.

Thomson’s Innovations Enhance Comcast’s Offerings for the Digital Home

Thomson develops groundbreaking Advanced Cable Gateways for new broadband services and supports Comcast in the deployment of Digital Transport Adaptors (DTA) Paris, France

Thomson, a worldwide leader of services to content creators, announced an agreement with Comcast, the leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services in the U.S., to bring to market the next generation of broadband Internet and digital communications services with Advanced Cable Gateways devices.

Conceived as a home networking and communications hub, this platform allows Comcast to provide state-of the art digital voice and data services to its customers – including using enhanced cordless telephone handsets to view email, manage voice mail, read news, weather, and sports, and to click-to-call from a universal address book powered by Plaxo, business directory, or call logs.

Comcast and Thomson expect to start deploying the Advanced Cable Gateway in the third quarter of 2009. As a long-term supplier, Thomson also provides Comcast with a variety of residential broadband products including data and VoIP cable modems.

Thomson entered last year the US cable video market by developing Digital Transport Adaptors (DTA) for Comcast. These DTAs that Comcast will be rolling out in the coming weeks are one-way devices that enable cable operators to move quickly and cost-efficiently to all-digital infrastructures by delivering digital-quality video and audio service to existing analog cable customers. The DTA, conceived to be completely user-friendly (easy to use, small and “plug and play”), is one of the less expensive ways cable operators will be able to deliver standard definition programs following the broadcast digital transition.

Thomson is currently working on the second generation of DTA, which will be smaller than a PDA and fully environmentally friendly.

AMIMON Secures $10 Million

Funding to Accelerate Mass Market Adoption of WHDI--

AMIMON Inc., the market leader in wireless HD semiconductor solutions, announced that it has raised $10 million in its latest round of funding. Led by Stata Venture Partners, this series D round of financing included all significant investors from prior rounds, in particular: Argonaut Private Equity, Cedar Fund, Evergreen Venture Partners, Walden Israel and Motorola through their strategic venture capital, Motorola Ventures.

AMIMON's chipsets have been shipping in volume embedded in wireless HDTVs and video accessories by leading TV OEMs selling AMIMON-based products in the US, Europe and Japan. AMIMON's wireless technology has also enabled breakthrough products in the medical imaging and professional video markets. AMIMON's strong technical team has already developed and successfully launched six different chips with its prior funding. Engineering strengths coupled with a high-level of execution allowed for effective and efficient use of capital.

Earlier this year AMIMON announced its second generation chipset designed for the WHDI™ (Wireless Home Digital Interface™) standard. It's the world's only chipset capable of wirelessly delivering full uncompressed 1080p/60Hz HD content throughout the entire home. WHDI chipsets will be integrated into wireless HDTV products and other WHDI devices from leading CE manufacturers.

More information is available at www.amimon.com and www.whdi.org.

For the full press release, click here.

CONNECTIONS™ identifies key growth areas, obstacles, and opportunities for industry players

CONNECTIONS™: The Digital Living Conference & Showcase, hosted by international research firm Parks Associates, featured three days, June 2-4, of presentations and panel discussions from service providers, CE companies, software and middleware developers, and many other members of the consumer technology value chain.

Glenn Lurie, President of Emerging Devices and Resale, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets, delivered the opening keynote “Embedding Wireless in Consumer Electronics” on June 2. In the following session, executives from Qualcomm, TiVo, YouTube, and Cisco addressed efforts from CE companies and content providers to deliver new video experiences to end users. PlumChoice hosted the evening networking reception.

Tricia Parks, CEO, Parks Associates, and Retrevo’s CEO Vipin Jain opened the conference on June 3 with “Navigating the Changing CE Purchase Process.” The presentation offered insight into 2008 CE purchase patterns, which showed consumers shifting away from spontaneity in their purchase decisions. Then, Kurt Scherf, VP, Parks Associates, moderated the session “Connected TV Strategies,” featuring IBM, AnySource Media, VIZIO, and Yahoo!, who discussed the implications of adding Internet connectivity to the televisions.

Joseph Ambeault, Director, Product Development and Management, Video Services, Verizon, provided the morning keynote, where he discussed the disruptive force of IP and the evolution of FiOS TV services to deliver a more personalized video experience. Eyecon Technologies sponsored the networking break.

The afternoon sessions featured speakers from Paramount Digital Entertainment, 2Wire, Alcatel-Lucent, Motorola, uControl, Macrovision, and more. The sessions focused on service provider strategies, WebTV, home monitoring, connected CE, and interactive services. MoCA hosted the session “Truth in Networking,” featuring executives from Actiontec Electronics, NETGEAR, Best Buy, and D-Link.

Mitch Singer, CTO, Executive Vice President of New Media and Technology, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc., and President of Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE), delivered the day’s closing keynote “Entertainment 2.0: The Future of Entertainment.” He discussed DECE’s efforts to remove the barriers for digital distribution of content. The final session of the day, “Wireless Networking & Video Consumption,” featured executives from Aceurity, AMIMON, Quantenna Communications, SiBEAM, ProVision Communications, and Celeno.

Via Licensing opened Thursday with the presentation “Ideas for addressing IPR issues for technology standards,” which described the collaboration between Via Licensing and IEEE and discussed the benefits of patent pools in helping technology companies deploy digital lifestyle solutions.

Bill Ablondi, Director, Home Systems Research, Parks Associates, presented the firm’s residential energy management research and moderated a session featuring executives from Cisco, Direct Energy, and the U.S. Department of Energy. Andres Carvallo, CIO, Austin Energy, presented the morning keynote “Building the Smart Grid,” discussing efforts in Austin, Texas, to deploy intelligent electrical systems that benefit utilities and consumers.

Thursday’s sessions featured topics on remote technical support, mobile multimedia, and wireless home controls, with participants from support.com, Telcordia, Pandora, Ortiva Wireless, Sigma Designs, and Control4, among others.

The afternoon session “Building the Holistic Support Environment” featured executives from Retrevo, Alcatel-Lucent, and Cisco Systems and discussed the expansion of customer care services for PCs and other electronics. The conference ended with the session “What’s Coming Next?”, featuring venture capitalists for the tech industry who discussed the challenging economic climate and current solutions with the best long-term outlook.

Thursday's Opening Session, Bringing the Smart Grid to the Smart Home

Bringing the Smart Grid to the Smart Home was the opening panel session on Thursday, June 4th.

Utilities and their partners are adding Smart Grid capabilities so they can shed load, accommodate alternative energy sources, and pinpoint outages. For consumers, benefits include reduced energy bills, enhanced comfort and convenience, and a smaller carbon footprint. This panel brings together companies leading Smart Grid initiatives through new technologies, systems, and business models.

Panel speakers include:
Sanket Amberkar, Marketing Manager, Network Systems Solutions, Cisco
Christopher Deutschen, Senior Manager, Product & Business Development, Direct Energy
Dr. Kenneth Wacks, Member, GridWise Architecture Council, U.S. Department of Energy
Bill Ablondi, Director, Home Systems Research, Parks Associates; panel moderator

Thursday Morning Presentation by IEEE and Via Licensing

The IEEE and Via Licensing Corporation presented ideas for addressing IPR issues for technology standards.

The IEEE and Via Licensing Corporation are writing a new chapter in IP licensing by bridging the gap between standards settings activities and the formation of patent pool programs aimed at facilitating those standards. This is a first-of-its kind collaboration from two leaders in IP management that is bound to have a significant impact on the future of standards and joint licensing efforts. Patent pools allow multiple licensors of patents that read on a technology to provide their essential patents under a single license to implementers of the technology. The creation of a patent pool can save licensors and licensees time and money and allow new technologies to hit the market faster by reducing IP obstacles.

Ortiva Wireless to Discuss Mobile Video at CONNECTIONS 2009

CONNECTIONS The Digital Living Conference & Showcase 2009

Craig Lee, Vice President, Marketing and Business Development for Ortiva Wireless, will present to mobile operators, service providers, entertainment executives, and solution providers at CONNECTIONS 2009 The Digital Living Conference and Showcase today, Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 11:15 a.m. PT .

Lee has more than 20 years of experience in corporate marketing, product management and business development. Currently, he leads Ortiva’s strategic marketing, business development and partner initiatives as the company grows its global customer base of wireless service providers. Prior to joining Ortiva, Lee held a number of executive roles, including Vice President, Marketing, and Vice President, Sales for Nuera Communications (acquired by AudioCodes Ltd.), provider of packet voice equipment. He holds a BA in economics from Williams College and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

In the “Multimedia on Mobile Devices” panel, Lee will join other wireless experts to discuss the market’s most promising multimedia applications, including those driving the mobile TV/video market forward. Lee will detail how mobile operators can grow mobile TV/video viewing communities by meeting stringent consumer expectations for smooth video and clear audio. Panelists will discuss the latest mobile multimedia trends and technology, and their impact on carriers, device manufacturers and application companies.

Ortiva Wireless offers the industry's most advanced commercial solution for proactive management of mobile video, allowing service providers to dramatically improve control, quality, and efficiency of rich media content delivery. Ortiva's mobile Video Optimization Gateway (mVOG) extends service reach, increases network efficiency, and improves video coverage density for mobile operators, while dynamically shaping the content to give subscribers the smoothest video and clearest audio experience possible – all regardless of fluctuating and hostile wireless network conditions.

To learn more about how Ortiva is accelerating mobile video delivery, visit www.ortivawireless.com.