Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

In The News

IRobot faces a murky future amid rising Roomba competitors

The company is still “number one,” said Elizabeth Parks, president of market research firm Parks Associates in Dallas. But it’s a shaky number one. Parks estimates that iRobot had nearly two-thirds of the robot vacuum market in 2018, but now holds only a 48 percent share. Meanwhile, rival robot makers like SharkNinja, Roborock, Eufy, and Ecovacs have been steadily chipping away.

One possible reason, according to Parks, is concern about data privacy. More advanced versions of the Roomba and other robots use visual sensors to generate detailed maps of the user’s home. This information is shared with the manufacturers to develop more advanced products, but it could also potentially be used to monitor users.

From the article, "IRobot faces a murky future amid rising Roomba competitors" by Hiawatha Bray

Previously In The News

Forget the Streaming Wars—Pandemic-Stricken 2020 Lifted Netflix and Others

About 60% of U.S. households currently use Netflix, according to research firm Parks Associates, and it still holds a sizable lead over most of its rivals—though some new entrants are gaining ground f...

A New Service Seeks to Streamline Your Streaming

The coronavirus pandemic has been a boon for major streaming services, including Netflix Inc., Disney’s Hulu and Amazon.com Inc.’s Prime Video, whose subscriber base soared last year in the midst of g...

Home Security Company ADT Betting on Google Partnership to Build Revenue

Home security systems have historically required professional installation, but the rise of smartphone-connected and do-it-yourself products in recent years has expanded the market, according to Jenni...

Roku Pays to be a Player

Roku still inhabits an enviable position in the streaming wars. The company powers about 38% of streaming devices and connected TVs in the U.S., according to Parks Associates, representing a leading m...