Connected Devices Have Bright Future

By Editors of TWICE -- TWICE, 10/4/2010

Port Washington, N.Y. – A new report by The NPD Group points to a large and untapped market for devices that offer connected capabilities and the digital content played on those devices.

According to NPD’s report, The Connected Experience: Building a Bridge Between Devices & Content, as the industry grows, consumers are beginning to access a broader array of content and services, and they are doing so from more devices.

Although 75 percent of U.S. consumers age 13 and older did not connect or download content in the previous three months, 15 percent connected and downloaded content via computer, 6 percent connected with a video game player, 4 percent connected via smartphone, and 2 percent connected via a Blu-ray Disc player or a digital video player, like Apple TV or Roku.

“What we learned in our research is that while some people already experience the world in a connected way, most do not,” said Russ Crupnick, VP/senior entertainment analyst for NPD. “For many who are connecting, it is not about the flashiest apps, but more about the fundamentals like web browsing and email.”

With their low prices and rising penetration, Blu-ray stands to be a prime avenue to deliver broadband content to the consumer’s living room, according to NPD. Connected televisions are also experiencing increasing penetration, particularly among large-screen televisions.

Devices with associated services, like XBox Live and Amazon’s Kindle store, are driving content associated with particular types of devices, but owners are consuming more general content, as well. For example, smartphone platforms are increasingly accessing a range of media services, from games to music to video to productivity apps.

The report is available at www.npd.com.