WHILE CONSUMERS HAVE BEGUN to blend in networked consumer electronics (CE) devices, or networked media devices in their homes, the market is still in the early adopter stage, reports tech research firm In-Stat.
Although In-Stat’s consumer research shows that there has been progress, the majority of consumers still only use their home network for Internet sharing, says a company report.
"Improvement is still needed when it comes to consumer awareness of the new breed of PC and non-PC network-capable media devices (Media Center PCs, CE media servers, digital media adapters, digital media receivers/players, and other networked CE devices)," said Joyce Putscher, In-Stat analyst, in a release. "To date, non-PC network-enabled stationary media devices have been dominated by game consoles. However, the vast majority of non-PC network-enabled stationary devices are not currently used to stream audio and video multimedia streams from room to room."
In-Stat also found:
* World-wide media server-capable device shipments will grow by a 43% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2006 to 2011.
* The worldwide market for basic media server shipments to be placed in home networks within one year is expected to grow by 62% from 2006 to 2011.
* Global home networks with at least one PC and at least one networked CE device will grow by about 100% in 2008.
