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.

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.

New Content Available from CONNECTIONS 2010 Speakers & Sponsors

The 2010 CONNECTIONS Speakers and Sponsors have shared marketing materials, product information, company media kits, and lots more.

The U.S CONNECTIONS Sponsors include Verizon Wireless, Cisco, Intel, Accenture, ActiveVideo Networks, Allegro, DivX, D-Link, Gigle Networks, Intamac, ProVision Communications, PacketVideo, RedMere, Rovi, Support.com, 4Home, Accedo Broadband, Affinegy, AlertMe, Arxan, IBM, iTOK, LEVEL Studios, PlumChoice, Vuze, Zenverge, and Roxio.

Speakers (that submitted information to share) include Cedric Arnaud-Battandier, VP, Strategy & Corporate Development, Technicolor; Cathy Bradley, Global Lead, Customer Contact Business Process Outsourcing Services, Accenture; Savinay Berry, Vice President, Granite Ventures; William C. Brown, Assoc. VP Technology and GM, Service Provider Business Unit, North America, D-Link; Mike Buckingham, Director of Marketing, SmartLabs, Inc.; Alfredo Choperena, President, SimpleHomeNet; Martin Flusberg, CEO, Powerhouse Dynamics; Todd Hinders, Senior Vice President, ExtendMedia; Scott Hublou, Co-Founder, SVP of Products, EcoFactor; Tony Masterson, COO, CTO and Co-founder, Zenverge; Kevin Meagher, CEO, Intamac Systems; Andy Melder, Vice President Business Development, Gigle Networks; Kevin Morgan, CTO, Arxan Technologies, Inc.; Tom Pollard, Director of Product Management, Verimatrix Inc.; Yaron Raz, Director of Video Solutions Marketing, BigBand Networks; Rick Schwartz, Senior Product Manager, PacketVideo (PV); Loren Shade, VP Marketing, Allegro Software Development Corporation; Melissa Simpler, CEO, Affinegy; Peter Smyth, CEO, RedMere; Steve Tranter, VP Interactive and Broadband, NDS; Edgar Villalpando, SVP, Marketing, ActiveVideo Networks; Dr. Kenneth Wacks, Member, GridWise Architecture Council, U.S. Department of Energy; and Nate Williams, CMO, 4Home.

To view all materials, click here.

Thank you 2010 U.S. Sponsors!

Parks Associates wanted to thank all of the U.S. CONNECTIONS sponsors for helping make 2010 another great event!

Reception: Verizon Wireless

Gold: Cisco, Intel

Silver: Accenture, ActiveVideo Networks, Allegro, DivX, D-Link, Gigle Networks, Intamac, ProVision Communications, PacketVideo, RedMere, Rovi, support.com

Bronze: 4Home, Accedo Broadband, Affinegy, AlertMe, Arxan, IBM, iTOK, LEVEL Studios, PlumChoice, Vuze, Zenverge

Breakfast: Roxio

Thank you again for your continued support!

CONNECTIONS US sponsors include Verizon Wireless, Cisco, Intel...

Parks Associates announced CONNECTIONS™: The Digital Living Conference & Showcase will feature more than 60 sponsors and supporters from the digital living markets. Parks Associates will host CONNECTIONS™ on June 8-10 at the Santa Clara Convention Center, with more than 500 executives focused on new media, home controls and energy management, mobile and entertainment platforms, value-added services, and connected consumer electronics.

Our CONNECTIONS™ sponsors reflect a broad array of companies all adding value to both home networks and access services and helping to create new value from these exciting applications.

CONNECTIONS™ sponsors:

Reception: Verizon Wireless

Gold: Cisco, Intel

Silver: Accenture, ActiveVideo Networks, Allegro, DivX, D-Link, Gigle Networks, Intamac, ProVision Communications, PacketVideo, RedMere, Rovi, support.com

Bronze: 4Home, Accedo Broadband, Affinegy, Arxan, IBM, iTOK, LEVEL Studios, PlumChoice, Vuze, Zenverge

Breakfast: Roxio

Platinum supporting organizations are Churchill Club and JETRO. Supporting organizations include ADMIN, ATIS, CABA, CEDIA, ChinaCCM.com, Circle F Media, Digital Media Pipeline, Electronics Technicians Association, EMA’s GamePlan Summit, ETSI, Experiential Marketing Forum, FTTH Conference & Expo, HomePlug Powerline Alliance, HomePNA, IDMA, 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.

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.

Want to know what happens at CONNECTIONS™?

Download the event summary and program guide from past events. All sessions and keynotes are summarized, and event summaries include research perspective from Parks Associates analysts.

Click here for more information.

International research firm announces agenda for Amsterdam executive summit

Parks Associates announced the agenda for CONNECTIONS™ Europe: Monetizing Connectivity and User Experiences, which the international research firm will host on April 27, 2010, in Amsterdam.

CONNECTIONS™ Europe is the leading executive summit featuring European and international consumer research, top executives, and innovative companies in the digital living markets. The summit will examine business models and challenges related to digital media, including the potential of 3D video in the home, the role of value-added services in building ARPU, monetization of over-the-top content, and the challenge of pushing content to multiple connected CE, including smartphones and other mobile devices.

The preliminary agenda for CONNECTIONS™ Europe features the following sessions:
-- Bringing the Content
-- Extending the Video Experience to Multiple Screens
-- Controlling the Experience
-- Value-added Services & the Video Ecosystem
-- Mobile Video: The Cloud, the App Store & the Connected Home

CONNECTIONS™ Europe will feature Parks Associates’ expert consumer and industry research, with the company’s analysts presenting data from consumer research projects including All Eyes on Video, Consumer Decision Process, Residential Energy Management, and Digital Media Evolution.

Early sponsors for CONNECTIONS™ Europe, also members of Parks Associates’ Premier Program, include ActiveVideo Networks and PacketVideo. Visit www.parkspremier.com for more information on the Premier Program.

Visit www.connectionseurope.com for more information about CONNECTIONS™ Europe. The deadline for speaker submissions is March 1, 2010.

Eyecon Demonstrates User-Experience Application Platform at CES

Eyecon, a sponsor of Parks Associates Connections events, will be demonstrating its user-experience application platform for networked media players at CES.

As internet enabled televisions, broadband set-tops, networked audio systems and digital picture frames proliferate in the connected home, consumers require a common and portable interface to manage their media and player options. Discovery and navigation of multiple content sources including over-the-top content, music libraries, user-generated and premium video sites also poses a significant challenge not only for consumers but CE manufacturers, service providers, and content publishers as well.

EyeconTroller for the iPhone meets these challenges by providing a personalized, mobile interface enabling users to search, preview and queue content from multiple sources and control its play-out to multiple entertainment devices.

EyeconTroller works with EyeconManager, a free software download for the consumers networked PC or Mac. EyeconManager creates a virtual library of all the users authorized content – video, music and photographs, no matter where it resides, locally or on the web. It also discovers both DLNA and other popular connected players in the home.

You can see Eyecon’s user-experience application in several locations at CES including Intel’s invitation only Residential Gateway and Media Phone suites, Western Digital’s TV Live HD Media Player demo, Syabas’s Popcorn Hour suite, Marvells SheevaPlug Partner Pavilion, and CopperGates Home Connectivity Solution suite.

You can also contact molly@eyecontechnologies.com to schedule a demo at Eyecon’s demonstration suite in the Venetian.

CONNECTIONS™ Europe announces call for papers to address new challenges, opportunities in changing product and service landscape

CONNECTIONS™ Europe has announced the call for papers for its upcoming Summit, November 4, 2009, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. CONNECTIONS™ Europe Summit, hosted by international research firm Parks Associates, is dedicated to the discussion and analysis of new business models for emerging services, applications, and advanced digital technologies. The event will take place at the Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre.

“There will be over 180 million households in Western Europe subscribing to TV services in 2013,” said Kurt Scherf, vice president, principal analyst, Parks Associates. “These consumers will drive demand for advanced entertainment products and services, including DVRs, VOD services, and advanced set-tops. There will also be considerable competition for these consumers. CONNECTIONS™ Europe will address these challenges and examine the right business plans necessary for companies to succeed in this changing service environment.”

CONNECTIONS™ Europe is accepting speaker submissions within five main topic categories.Adding Value to Access Services examines the impact of broadband value-added services and the role and design of connected CE enabling these services.
Digital Home Tech Services examines consumer demand and new revenue opportunities for installation, troubleshooting, and service plans.

Residential Gateways – Devices Enabling New Services examines hardware requirements and service opportunities as these devices enable enhanced bundled services and home connectivity applications.

Video Devices & Entertainment Platforms examines the new roles and functions for the television, the set-top, the game console, the PC, portable devices, and mobile phones as well as the software enabling these technologies.

Television, Digital Media Services, & Advanced Video examines next-generation entertainment applications and “go-to-TV” services and products.

CONNECTIONS™ Global Sponsors include HD-PLC Alliance, DSC, Macrovision, MoCA, Radialpoint, ActiveVideo Networks, Affinegy, Icron, Irdeto, NXP, ProVision Communications, Telcordia, and Zilog. CONNECTIONS™ Europe Advisory Sponsor is Eyecon Technologies. Visit http://www.connectionseurope.com for sponsorship information or to submit a speaking proposal. Deadline for submission is August 15, 2009.

For the full press release, click here.

PlumChoice becomes CONNECTIONS(TM) Reception Sponsor

Parks Associates welcomes PlumChoice as the evening reception sponsor for the CONNECTIONS(TM) Conference.

PlumChoice Online PC Services is a trusted provider of online computer support for the home, home office and small business. The company is based in Billerica, MA with remote offices throughout the U.S.

PlumChoice's premium remote computer and technology service is available to home and business PC users, business travelers, telecommuters, college students, persons with limited mobility and any PC user with Internet access. The company's remote services include support for PCs, MP3 players, PDAs and other mobile devices, networking and network devices, printers and other peripherals, digital cameras and any software, connectivity or operating system level issues.

For more information about PlumChoice, visit www.plumchoice.com/partner .

CONNECTIONS™ Europe executive summit features speakers from digital media companies, CE manufacturers, service and solution providers

International research firm Parks Associates announced the final agenda and speakers for CONNECTIONS™ Europe Summit, March 31, 2009, in Nice, France.

This executive event, taking place at the Hotel Palais de La Mediterranee, provides attendees with international consumer research and features interactive discussions on European consumer trends, broadband and value-added services, IPTV and video services, digital media, connected CE, and digital home services and support.

Roger Pitton, Program Director, TV, Video & Music Business, Microsoft Corporation, will deliver the keynote “IPTV and the keys to keeping customers” at CONNECTIONS™ Europe. The event also features the following speakers:

>> Michimasa Aramaki, Director, Industrial Standardization, HD-PLC Alliance
>> Thierry Boudard, IPTV Strategic Innovation Manager, Thomson
>> Richard Bullwinkle, Chief Evangelist, Macrovision
>> Mark Cavicchia, CEO & Founder, WhereverTV
>> Nicolas Decitre, GM: France and Benelux, Jungo
>> Brian Donnelly, VP, Sales and Marketing, Icron
>> Margot Dor, Director, Strategic Projects, ETSI
>> Paul Entwistle, CTO, Pace
>> Milan Erbes, Ambassador, HGI; Standardization & Business Development Manager, DS2
>> Gil Eyal, CEO, Enure Networks
>> Ed Forman, EVP, Products and Services, ActiveVideo Networks
>> Paul Gainham, Director, Service Provider Marketing, EMEA, Juniper Networks
>> Peter Galyas, CTO, Tilgin
>> Stefan Jenzowsky, CEO, moreTV Broadcasting GmbH
>> Art Lancaster, CTO, Affinegy
>> Dr. Ulrich Leiner, Head, Department Interactive Media, Human Factors, Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, HHI
>> Dr. Anton Monk, CTO, MoCA; Co-Founder, Entropic Communications, Inc.
>> Trond Neergard, VP, Sales and General Manager, EMEA, Radialpoint
>> Dr. Randolph Nikutta, Project Field Head "New Media", Deutsche Telekom AG, Laboratories
>> Frederic Onado, VP EMEA, HomePlug Powerline Alliance; COO, SPiDCOM Technologies
>> Eric Plesner, Director, Business Development, IO-Homecontrol
>> Micha Risling, VP, Marketing, Valens Semiconductor
>> Bill Stanley, Director, Operations Solutions, Telcordia
>> Matt Theall, Technology Strategist, Intel Corporation; President, HomeGrid Forum
>> Navin Varsani, Consumer Director, EMEA, Cloakware
>> Ian Walker, Director, Sales and Marketing, EMEA PayTV, EchoStar

Event sponsors include Affinegy, Enure Networks, and HomeGrid Forum. Global Sponsors include ActiveVideo Networks, Affinegy, Cloakware, DSC, HD-PLC Alliance, Icron, Macrovision, MoCA, ProVision Communications, Radialpoint, Telcordia, and Zilog.

For information, visit www.connectionseurope.com.

Press passes are available at http://www.parksassociates.com/connectionseurope.

28% of Broadband Households in Western Europe watch online TV monthly

CONNECTIONS™ Europe Summit examines new opportunities in broadband, video services, digital media, CE ---

International research firm Parks Associates announced today the topics and preliminary list of speakers for CONNECTIONS™ Europe Summit, March 31, 2009, in Nice, France. This executive event addresses the new strategies for service and technology providers, media companies, and manufacturers in creating new entertainment and communications solutions.

Summit sessions include broadband and value-added services, the evolution of video services, digital media, connected CE, digital home services and customer support, and the future of consumer technologies.The agenda includes consumer and industry research on CE ownership and purchase intentions, interest in advanced television and video services, and digital entertainment habits, including attitudes toward content copying and piracy.

CONNECTIONS™ Europe features Roger Pitton, Program Director, TV Business, Microsoft Corporation, delivering the keynote “IPTV and the keys to keeping customers.” The event also features:

Michimasa Aramaki, Director, Industrial Standardization, HD-PLC Alliance
Thierry Boudard, IPTV Strategic Innovation Manager, Thomson
Richard Bullwinkle, Chief Evangelist, Macrovision
Mark Cavicchia, CEO & Founder, WhereverTV
Brian Donnelly, VP Marketing & Business Development, Icron
Margot Dor, Director of Strategy, ETSI
Paul Entwistle, Chief Technologist, Pace
Milan Erbes, Ambassador, HGI; Standardization & Business Development Manager, DS2
Gil Eyal, CEO, Enure Networks
Ed Forman, EVP, Products and Services, ActiveVideo Networks
Peter Galyas, CTO, Tilgin
Trevor Izsak, Director, Business and Market Development, Cloakware
Stefan Jenzowsky, CEO, moreTV Broadcasting GmbH
Art Lancaster, CTO, Affinegy
Dr. Ulrich Leiner, Head of Department Interactive Media - Human Factors, Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, HHI
Dr. Anton Monk, CTO, MoCA; Co-Founder, Entropic Communications, Inc.
Trond Neergard, Vice President, Sales and General Manager, EMEA, Radialpoint
Dr. Randolph Nikutta, Head of Project Field "New Media", Deutsche Telekom AG, Laboratories
Frederic Onado, Vice President EMEA, HomePlug Powerline Alliance; COO, SPiDCOM Technologies
Eric Plesner, Director of Business Development, IO-Homecontrol
Eran Rom, CEO, Jungo
Micha Risling, VP of Marketing, Valens Semiconductor
Bill Stanley, Director, Operations Solutions, Telcordia

Event sponsors include Advisory Sponsors Affinegy and Enure Networks and Supporting Sponsor HomeGrid Forum. CONNECTIONS™ Global Sponsors include ActiveVideo Networks, Affinegy, Cloakware, DSC, HD-PLC Alliance, Icron, Macrovision, MoCA™, ProVision Communications, Radialpoint, Telcordia, and Zilog.

For information, visit http://www.connectionseurope.com/