The home automation market is set to change dramatically with the market split into two core sectors "mainstream" systems based on standardised technologies and packaged home automation components wrapped around services offered through a broadband or wireless service provider like Telstra a leading research Company has said.
ABI Research has also said that the home automation market is set to grow more than 50-fold between now and 2013.
For 20 years, home automation systems were confined to two niche markets: luxury custom-designed and installed high-end systems that cover the whole home at a typical cost of $50,000-80,000 and up, and "do it yourself" X10 systems that tech-savvy customers typically bought online and installed themselves.
Now, according to ABI Research senior analyst Sam Lucero, "Home automation systems are becoming more mainstream and managed services are growing. ABI Research believes that they will appeal to a much wider public. Their forecasts indicate that the overall market will grow from a modest numbers this year to millions of systems in 2013."
By far the lion's share of that growth will occur in the two new segments, "mainstream" and managed services. Mainstream systems are based on standard technologies and packaged components, as well as software that is integrated into other devices in the home, such as set-top boxes. They feature interoperable devices available from multiple vendors, as opposed to integrated single-vendor systems. Such products are typically sold via high-touch retail and "big box" outlets. Home builders are also using them as an option.
Managed home automation will show the strongest growth of all with Telstra set to roll out an automation gateway product next year. ABI Research predicts that the carriers will partner with automation vendors such as Control4 and Hills Industries as well as the likes of
Crestron to deliver services. They also say that telecom service providers will provide functionality and remote monitoring via a computer or smart phone, as part of "quintuple play" bundles.
