Networked surveillance cameras are leading the adoption of smart-home technology, Parks Associates said in releasing consumer-survey results during ISC West.
Nine percent of U.S. broadband households owned an IP/networked security camera at the end of 2015, and 4 to 5 percent of broadband households bought a networked camera in 2015, Parks said in citing its survey of 10,000 broadband households in the U.S.
More than half of the networked cameras bought in 2015 were bought by first-time buyers, the company added. Other buyers were purchasing a replacement model or additional IP cameras.
“Safety and security are two key drivers for consumer adoption of smart-home devices, and networked cameras are among the leading products with strong security value propositions,” said analyst Brad Russell.
Networked cameras consist of any camera that can be accessed and controlled from a smartphone, tablet, or computer, Parks said. They include cameras included in wired DVR/camera bundles as well as cameras sold by managed-service providers, including security-monitoring companies.
Bundled purchases: Parks also found that more than 60 percent of networked security cameras in U.S. broadband households were acquired as part of a home-security system or a home-control system that controls additional types of devices.
“Security system households are more likely to own a networked camera than non-security system households, and by a lot,” said Russell. “Among U.S. broadband households with professional security monitoring, 32 percent also own a networked security camera. These devices can add an additional layer of protection to a system at a relatively low cost, so security-minded consumers have been good targets to market these products.”
In 2015, a third of networked security cameras were acquired as standalone products, down slightly from 2014’s 36 percent.
In other findings, Park said almost half of networked cameras are installed by the owner or by a friend or family member. Forty-four percent of networked security-camera owners access or control their device remotely on a daily or almost-daily basis.
