In-Stat: Blu-ray will create more 'connected homes'

In-Stat released a study today that measured the penetration of permanently connected electronics devices in the consumer home. The analysis firm has been doing these studies for years, and it always seems like the public lags behind what experts predicted. With the advent of 802.11b in 2002, the group predicted that "You'll mass-market smart home networks five years down the road." Things still aren't what they expected as it turns out, but video game consoles have provided the best inroad so far.

Joyce Putscher, In-Stat analyst said, "The primary reasons that more devices are not connected to home networks are: consumer awareness/knowledge, availability of network-capable CE products on retail shelves, prices of network-capable CE products, competition with non-network-capable CE products (like docking stations), and lack of perceived need by some consumers."

In-Stat now expects to see real growth in home networking when consumers upgrade to connected Blu-ray players and start streaming movies. The group's survey found that 64% of consumers are interested in watching Internet-based streaming video on their main television.