Speakers from Comcast, AT&T Digital Life, Schneider Electric, Vivint Smart Home, Rovi and Hewlett-Packard and others participated in Parks Associates annual Connections conference in San Francisco this week. Among the topics tackled were business models for the smart home, and the fundamental need for partnerships to make the Internet of Things (IoT) space truly work.
“There are several alternative business models emerging for the smart home, including a two-sided business model, from companies such as EnergyHub and WattzOn, and open platforms, where Samsung, through SmartThings, has moved aggressively into this space,” Tom Kerber, director, research, home controls an energy at Parks Associates, says. “We had a near-universal agreement among Connections speakers and attendees that partnerships are critical to success in IoT. By 2020, more than 24 million U.S. broadband households will have a smart home controller, making 2016 the ideal time for businesses to build the partnerships they need to achieve the vision of an IoT-enabled smart home.”
From the article "What Are The Obstacles To Mass Smart Home Adoption?" by Laura Hamilton.