OTT Expanding to Smart Home

According to Infonetics Research, smart home services are increasingly following the over-the-top (OTT) model common in video. The research house expects the percentage of service providers offering over-the-top (OTT) home automation services to more than double by 2015."One of the more interesting trends we're seeing in the home automation market is the concept of a provider offering services to end customers over another operator's broadband connection," wrote Jeff Heynen, principal analyst for broadband access and pay TV at Infonetics. "Verizon has been experimenting with trials of over-the-top (OTT) home automation services as a way to secure revenue from out-of-market customers."Other highlights from the survey indicate:

• More than 70% of the operators participating in Infonetics' survey will offer home automation services by the end of 2013.



• Consumer education is a deployment challenge for an overwhelming majority of survey respondents.



• Broadband providers are increasingly competing with established home security companies: The bulk of those surveyed plan to offer home security services by 2015.